11
The Strays
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She sagged back in her chair, her body almost feeling as if it were deflating. Her eyes gazed up at the ceiling, her hands dropping onto her lap.
“Claudia.” Her father-in-law’s voice felt distant, even though he was sitting right before her.
She didn’t say anything, but shut her eyes, inhaling deeply. When she opened her eyes once more, she looked at him. He seemed so old now, even more so than he ever had.
Claudia frowned, setting her jaw. “I was aware that aberrant activity was swelling in the north—Reports from just a few weeks ago stated as much.” She shook her head, her hand reaching up to rub at her eyes. “It’s not unusual for the Legion’s warbands to lash out during the summer, but… Gods be good, as far as Ansur? Over the course of a single week? This is…” She exhaled, clenching her hands around the armrests of her chair.
“It’s unprecedented, yes.” Lord Grave finished for her, his voice grim. “I’ve never known aberrants to be so coordinated as to stage such a series of attacks, from east to west. Nor to do so simultaneously.” He frowned darkly as he gazed at her, reaching up a hand to stroke at his beard.
“They’ve always been beasts—savage and ravenous. Singular warbands numbering in the thousands are the worst the Alliance has had to contend with, and countless lives have been consumed by them. But organized hordes? Never. This is far more than just a rabble of greenskins.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Claudia asked.
He quirked a brow upward. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that’s not why you’re here. Make no mistake, Father—I am glad to see you, and I am thankful you’ve made me aware of this. But I likely would have received the news within a day or two regardless.” She sat up, and steepled her hands on her desk, meeting his gaze evenly. “So tell me. What is it that truly brought you here?
“Ah…” He exhaled, as he stood from his seat across from her, moving to gaze out the window. His hands clasped behind his back, his face still set in a frown. Truly, he looked every bit like the warrior he’d once been—That he still was. “You’re right. There is more to my visit than this.” He paused, and for a moment, she thought he wasn’t going to continue. Then, he began to speak once more.
“...You are a perceptive woman, Claudia. You always have been. I won’t try to deceive you in this. My main concern isn’t the fact that these attacks have occurred. Rather, it’s the fact that we’ve only learned of them after they occurred.” He turned to face her once more, his gaze deathly serious.
It took her a moment to understand his meaning. “Her Holiness.”
He nodded. “I already understand that Her sight is neither infallible, nor absolute… And yet, somehow, She didn’t see this. She could have.” He shook his head slowly, his gaze sliding past her, seeing something distant. “Thousands of aberrants, all throughout Eostia… She should have.”
Claudia frowned and narrowed her gaze, leaning forward against the table. “My lord Grave… Just what is it exactly that you’re implying?”
His eyes snapped back to her abruptly, and though his expression was stoic as always, she couldn’t miss the peculiar light of surprise that filled them. And then he surprised her when he chuckled. It was a strange sort of half-laugh, one of bemusement, rather than any sense of mirth. The sound itself was not what surprised her, however—Rather, it was the fact that he’d laughed at all.
“Gods… Who knows?” He muttered, so quietly she almost didn’t catch the words. “To be honest, I… am not entirely sure, myself.” He shook his head, his voice growing firm once more. “Or perhaps, I just don’t want to see it.”
“See what?” Claudia asked, prompting him to continue.
Lord Grave shook his head once more, turning away. “As I said, it is nothing. Forget I said anything.” And with that, he walked away.
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None of us said a word after Lord Klaus finished speaking. The only noticeable sound was Adwin’s quiet breathing, as he sat next to his master.
Lord Klaus let out a quiet laugh, which sounded just about as awkward as we all collectively must have felt. “Well, erm, you must have a number of questions, I’m sure,” he said.
It was more a statement than a question, but I suppose he knew that I did.
“Yes. I- I mean, no, my lord,” I stammered, feeling myself getting more flustered by the second. “I, um, that is…”
He let out another quiet laugh, and waved his hand in front of him. “Calm yourself, Ansel. It’s quite alright. I understand, this must be a lot to take in.”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah. Kinda.”
“I’m afraid I didn’t mean to spring this on you all at once,” he said. “I’d meant to start a lot slower, but, given the circumstances…” He trailed off, shaking his head, before finally turning to the room’s third occupant.
She glanced away, the bangs of her pink hair partially obscuring her eyes.
He gave her a small smile. “I don’t mean to offend, Highness, but I imagine your attendants must be rather beside themselves with worry.”
Highness. I felt myself tremble a little. I’d known she was nobility, but I never could have imagined that she was royalty. Princess Prim Fiorire, of Ur. Goddess preserve me.
She shook her head softly, giving him a tiny smile of her own. “Actually… I’d be surprised if they even begin to suspect my absence. I… Well, I did my best to ensure I’d not be found for some time.”
He cocked an eyebrow in surprise, and chuckled again. This time, the sound was lighthearted, more natural, and I found myself smiling along. “Well, that’s a feat of its own right,” he said. “All the same, your secret is safe with me. I’ll not tell anyone that you were here. Or anywhere other than your own chambers at home, for that matter.”
She looked down at the table, seemingly abashed. “Thank you, Lord Klaus.”
He inclined his head to her, before adding, “Though, naturally, I must ensure that you return to your home safely, and with all due haste, your Highness. I’ll have a carriage prepared for you immediately. You’ll be able to get home before the next bell.”
She sighed and nodded in response.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed her glancing at me, though she quickly averted her gaze when I met her eyes.
She set her mouth in a thin line for a moment, then she took in a breath. “Pardon me, Lord Klaus,” she began, her voice hitching a bit. “If it’s okay, could Ans— That is, could master Eschenwald escort me himself?”
Both he and I started in surprise of her request, him probably more so than me, and I was already pretty taken aback. His eyes met mine for a brief moment, before he returned his attention to her.
The princess continued. “He has proven himself to be a cordial and respectful gentleman thus far.” She looked at him, her eyes pleading. “I trust him.”
The lord and I shared another glance, but he was the one to break the silence. “As do I,” he agreed after a long pause. “Ansel, I trust you’ll see to Her Highness’ safe return home, yes?”
I swallowed nervously, but nodded. “Yes, sir.”
He smiled kindly and nodded back to me, before turning to the door, beckoning for us to follow him out.
As we stepped outside my house, Lord Klaus put a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “I realize this is an unusual situation, Ansel,” he said, “but rest assured, no one is at fault.”
“Erm, right.”
He laughed again, softly. “I did say that her Highness’ secret is safe with me, but that goes for you as well, Ansel,” he added, tapping at his nose with a smile.
Adwin barked once, bidding Penel… Princess Prim and I goodbye as we exited the estate together.
Even at dusk, Geofu still was a marvel to behold. The hustle and bustle of its streets slowly began winding down, but its people were still as lively as ever. In the odd market stalls we passed, merchants tried to peddle their goods before closing up for the day. At the heart of a plaza, an old and magnificent fountain sprayed water high into the air, the droplets glistening with the orange light of the early evening.
And yet, as the princess and I walked to the nobility’s residential ward… Well, the mood felt subdued, somehow completely lacking the carefree and jovial sensation from earlier.
I guess the shock of learning her true identity had left its mark on us. We walked in silence, the noise of the city doing nothing lessen the awkwardness between us. I caught sight of her glancing at me every once in a while, though our eyes never quite met, neither of us really knowing what to say to the other.
I couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking about. Was she concerned for me? Was she scared? Angry?
I wanted to ask, but stopped myself before I could say anything stupid. It felt selfish, asking her to bare her emotions just for me to understand.
Gods. All I knew was that I felt bad, seeing her like this, all forlorn and quiet. Especially when she’d been so lively and enthusiastic just a handful of hours prior.
Eventually, we passed into a new district, where everything managed to look richer and much more refined than the rest of the Holy City. In the distance, the White Citadel was visible, its ivory walls still shining like jewels.
Finally, I somehow built up enough courage to speak up at the very same moment she turned to me.
“I’m sorry,” we both blurted out at each other, and then paused.
She looked at me, and I looked at her.
“You go first,” she said.
I shook my head. “You go, princess.”
“I told you to go first,” she pouted, though the corners of her lips quirked upwards.
“No, you…” I replied, my voice cracking as I grinned too.
Our eyes met and held for a moment, and then we both burst out laughing. The stress, the worry and fear and embarrassment all melted away as we laughed, just like that.
“You okay?” I managed to ask in between breathless chuckles.
“Yes,” she nodded, smiling as our laughter wound down. “I just… As I was saying before, I’m sorry. I never should have deceived you. You just… You seemed so nice and fun to talk with, and I thought…” she bit her lip and glanced away. “No, I suppose I wasn’t thinking at all. I’m sorry, Ansel. I was selfish.”
“That’s not true.”
She turned to me, her blue eyes meeting my own again.
“Penelo… No, Prim. You’ve got nothing to apologize for,” I said.
“Yes there is! You trusted me and I lied to you!” She insisted.
I shook my head. “Sure, I guess. But I don’t mind. I mean, you said it yourself—You wanted to see Geofu with your own eyes, right? Well, I had a lot of fun today, and I hope you did, too.”
“...I did,” she admitted with a small smile.
I smiled in return. “Then that’s all that really matters. I’m glad we got to explore it together, Prim.” Then my eyes widened as I added with a stammer, “Um, I mean, princess Prim. Your highness, ma’am.”
She laughed again, a bit of color rising in her cheeks. “And I’m glad to have had your company, Ansel.”
With that, we continued walking onwards through the district. The Fiorire family’s residence was a large mansion which stood out pretty well, even among the many other nobles’ homes.
“Well,” I said, running my hand through my chin a bit, “I suppose this is it. You gonna be okay? Y’know, getting back inside?”
She nodded. “I’ll be fine,” she said, as she started walking to the house’s gate. Then she stopped and looked back. She stared at me for a few moments, before nodding to herself, as if she’d made up her mind about something. Before I realized it, she cleared the few meters of distance between us, and wrapped her arms around me in a hug.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
I felt my face grow hot and my body tense up, as I sputtered and stammered, my mind going in a hundred different directions at once. She didn’t seem to notice. Or if she did, she didn’t show it, as she squeezed me a little tighter.
After several moments’ hesitation—Because, gods, people had been executed for less!—I slowly brought my arms up around her, and returned the hug.
“Thank you, Ansel,” she said softly, her voice barely audible as she pulled away, with a smile and a blush on her face. Then, she turned and headed for the gate once again. “Um… Good night!” she waved, before opening it and slipping inside.
I didn’t move for a while, instead just standing there and staring dumbly into the space before me.
By the time I snapped out of my trance, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, and night had settled over the city. I let out a quiet chuckle and began walking, before any watchmen spotted me and began thinking that I was loitering.
...Which, well, I was.
As I walked along the streets, the day’s events replayed in my head, in a seemingly endless loop. And gods, what a day it had been. I mean, honestly, I never would have dreamed that I’d make friends with a princess, much less spend the entire day chatting and wandering through the city with her.
I let out another chuckle as I looked up at the night sky. The moon was already out, its pale light illuminating the streets. The stars twinkled in the distance, and the clouds drifted lazily across the sky. I took a deep breath of the crisp evening air.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t notice him until I’d already bumped into him.
“Whoah, sorry! My bad!” I said automatically, bowing my head a bit in apology.
The man I’d just walked into was around my height. He was clad in a tattered brown cloak, which obscured most of his body, hanging down to his ankles. On his feet, I caught a glimpse of scuffed and worn leather boots. Around his head, he wore a black bandanna, with locks of shaggy blue hair poking out from beneath it.
“‘S fine. Don’t worry about it,” he said under his breath, not breaking his stride as he pushed past me. His voice was gruff, but surprisingly youthful.
I stared after him as he continued on his way. Man, that was twice in one day now. I really needed to stop running into people, before it became a… a habit…
I know that voice.
My feet carried me after him, as if of their own accord. But I didn’t even think about that. My mind fixated on that youthful, sarcastic voice, I stumbled forward, calling out to him.
“Hey! Hey, hold on!”
With that, he stopped in his tracks, and slowly turned around.
He was around my age, give or take a year. His blue hair fell over his eyes, almost hiding their brown color, and a thin layer of hair coated his chin. And despite his gaunt cheeks and chapped lips and listless expression, I recognized him.
His own eyes widened in recognition, too. “Fuck, me,” he breathed. “Ansel? Ansel Eschenwald?”
I nodded, almost feeling numb as I responded, “Edd?”
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He stared at the bowl before him. The broth was thick and rich, filled with chunks of carrots, potatoes, and whatever-the-fuck-else that had been cooked down to the point where they disintegrated into the liquid. The chilled ale in the mug just beside it promised a sweet and easy evening.
Edd swallowed hard, his stomach aching, but he fought off the desire to sate its demands. He raised his eyes, meeting Ansel’s. He opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn’t find any words. After a few moments, he gave up, not really knowing how to even begin.
It was Ansel who broke the silence, after it stretched out for an uncomfortable length of time.
“Well, uh, I know we’re not in Ken, but… I did promise I’d buy you a drink,” he chuckled weakly. “Remember?”
“..Yeah,” Edd answered, a grin working its way onto his face, despite himself. “Yeah, I do.”
He paused, then spoke again, “So… you seem to be doing well for yourself, Red. Got all fancy them fancy duds and that sword, and all. How’s it workin’ out for ya?”
“It’s… It’s good,” Ansel said softly, looking down at his mug as he swirled its contents around. “Her Excellency—that is, Lady Claudia—she’s a great teacher.”
“Hm,” Edd replied vaguely, with a bit more bitterness than he’d intended in his voice, though Ansel didn’t quite seem to catch it. “Yeah. I’d heard about you becoming a knight, or something, some time ago.”
“Just her squire,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, she’s only been training me for a few months now, but…” He looked up, and Edd could practically see the stars in his eyes, like a kid looking up to an idol, before he shook his head. “Ah, well,” he shrugged. “I’m doing okay.”
“Yeah.” Edd nodded. He took a deep breath, then let it out. “That’s good to hear, man. I’m glad you’re… You know. Okay,” he finished lamely.
Ansel stared back, as if trying to read something on his face. After a few moments, he simply nodded towards the bowl of soup, which was still untouched. “That’s gonna get cold if you don’t get at it soon, you know.”
“Yeah. I guess I’m just not hun—” Edd’s stomach chose that exact moment to growl loudly, calling him out for a liar. “—gry…” He chuckled weakly and looked away.
Fuck it, he decided.
Shaking his head, he wrapped his left hand around the spoon and dipped it into the soup. The taste was just what he needed; Warm, hearty, and filling. Though, in all honesty, even if it tasted like boiled leather, he probably still would have forced it down regardless.
As he slurped away, he could almost literally feel Ansel’s eyes on him. He kept his gaze down on the broth, not really wanting to see what face he was making. Confusion? Disgust? Pity?
To hell with that.
Edd could practically feel the unasked questions hanging in the air, and a sense of resentment swelling towards him for not just spitting them out already.
“Gods,” he sighed, setting down the spoon. “You’re like having a hemorrhoid up my ass, you know that? Just ask, already.”
As he raised his head to look at him, Ansel recoiled a bit, with an apologetic smile. “S-sorry,” he muttered. “It’s just… What happened to you, Edd?” he asked, with all the subtlety and tact of a brick to the nose.
“The hell is it to you?” The question hung in the air between them for a few moments, as Edd glanced away again. “You know…” he said slowly, “I’ve been asking myself that question for a while now. I’m still not really sure how to answer it.” Almost absently, his fingers trailed to his neck, where the badge hung from a chain. The cool, worn metal felt uncomfortable against his skin, but also soothing in a way he couldn’t really explain.
Ansel’s eyes followed his hand’s motion, and his eyebrows shot up. “That’s a… Hold on,” he said, as his own hand went to a pocket on his tunic, pulling out a small, silvery badge of his own.
Edd couldn’t help but let out something resembling a chuckle as he saw it. “Holy shit,” he said. “You’ve still got that thing? That’s the one Vault gave you, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Ansel nodded, tracing a finger over its surface. “I know I’m not one of the Hounds, but, well, I guess the idea of getting rid of it didn’t really sit well with me, you know?”
Edd nodded with a sigh. “Yeah. You and me both, man,” he said.
“‘Both?’” Ansel repeated, puzzled. Then, his eyes widened as the realization dawned on him. “Edd, you don’t mean…?”
Fuck, Edd cursed internally, realizing he was about to get cornered into an explanation no matter what he said. He sucked his teeth and averted his eyes, shrugging. “Yeah, well… I’m not a Hound anymore. Got kicked out,” he admitted.
Just then, a vague, metallic screech came from somewhere inside the tavern’s kitchen. Despite having nothing at all in common, it somehow reminded him of a gargoyle’s scream.
His shoulder stung like a son of a bitch, seeming to light up in response to the memory itself. “No. Not kicked out,” he amended, clenching his teeth. “More like they just discharged me.”
Ansel’s brows knit together in concern and confusion. “But when? Why?”
“Why the hell do you think?” Edd snapped loudly, regretting it immediately when he saw Ansel flinch back, and the eyes of several other patrons turn towards him. Edd slumped back against his seat, bringing his hand up to rub against his scruffy chin.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “The Black Hounds are all about strength and victory. They’re not gonna go around dragging along someone who can’t fight.” He took in a breath, figuring he might as well not hold back the inevitable anymore. “Much less a fucking cripple.”
Ansel’s eyes widened, his jaw agape. Hell, if anything, he looked like he was about to cry. Not a good look for a squire, or whatever he was supposed to be. “Your arm…?”
Edd nodded. “Unlike you, I’m no lefty.”
They lapsed into a heavy silence, Ansel’s eyes unsubtly drifting between the badge and Edd’s right side. After a while, Edd heaved a sigh and grabbed for the mug of ale. It had already gone lukewarm, and was starting to taste a bit off, but he didn’t really care—He just wanted something to occupy his mind with.
“Edd,” Ansel finally began after several long minutes, “what’re you gonna do?”
Edd frowned, pondering the question. After a moment, he finally shrugged. “Dunno,” he admitted. “But,” he added, “It’s… it’s not so bad, you know? I can get by.”
He didn’t fool himself for even a moment. And by Ansel’s expression, he obviously didn’t believe him either. But he didn’t call him out on it, either.
After several more moments of deliberation, Ansel nodded to himself, and reached a hand down towards his hip, fumbling around for something. “Here, I want you to have this, Edd,” he said, as he laid a money pouch down on the table.
Edd eyed the pouch with incredulous eyes, feeling his mouth go dry.
“I, um, I didn’t count it,” Ansel admitted, “so I don’t really know how much is in it. But it should be enough to help you, even if it's just for a little bit. I want you to have it,” he repeated. “I wanna help.”
Ansel looked at him and smiled, his gray eyes practically shining with sincerity.
“Go fuck yourself,” Edd told him.
Ansel’s expression crumpled, like he’d just been slapped across the face. Edd stood from the table, scowling at him. “I never asked for this. I don’t want your pity, Ansel.”
He began to move away, barely making it halfway to the tavern’s door before a hand caught his shoulder. Edd whirled around, moving to punch him with an arm that wasn’t there anymore. They both froze, staring at one another for a moment.
“I’m sorry,” Ansel said, breaking the silence.
Edd shifted his eyes away, staring at the ground. “Get your damn hand offa me, man.” Ansel did as he was told, holding the offending hand up in a show of peace. “I won’t want your pity,” Edd repeated. “I don’t want your charity.”
“Alright,” he nodded. And then he pushed the fucking bag toward his chest anyway. Edd bared his teeth, actually ready to punch him out now.
“You don’t want my charity? Fine,” Ansel said firmly, his gaze hardening. “Then this is neither charity nor pity. This is my payback for that day, in Halem. Because you gave me your sword. Because you saved me.”
“For...?” It took him a moment to remember just what he was talking about. A day that felt like a million years ago, when they’d been surrounded with no hope of escape.
Ansel! he had shouted, Catch!
He couldn’t stop himself from laughing at the absurdity of it. “Hah... Dipshit, what the hell kind of logic is that? You’re the one who saved us both that day, not the other way around.”
Ansel just smiled. “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” he said. “So then this’ll make us even, Edd.”
He stood still, glancing around and noticing that pretty much everyone in the tavern had turned to stare at their little scene. Edd sighed, exasperated, and turned his attention back to him. “Back then... Keane told us we couldn’t go back for anyone who fell behind. He made it clear,” he said. “So why’d you come back for me, Ansel? The both of us could’ve gotten killed then.”
There was a pause. Ansel shook his head slowly. “To be honest, I dunno. I just saw you there, and your hand was reaching out, and my legs just sorta began moving on their own. So even if I wanted to, there was no way I could have just left you there, Edd.” He chuckled, scratching bashfully at his own cheek. “Guess I’m just that reckless, huh?”
Edd snorted and shook his head. “Stupid is what you are, Red.” He brought his hand up to grab the offered coin purse, and from its weight alone, he could tell that it was a sizable sum. “But I guess stupid works out, sometimes,” he said, as he turned and left the tavern.