Chapter Forty-Seven

Rhylix

I beg you, for the friendship we once shared, to do what must be done.

The signs had stopped. For three hours now, I’d followed the ones Ren had left for me, but I couldn’t find any more. I’d already retraced my steps between the last few, making sure I hadn’t missed anything, and that effort had once more led me here, to this innocuous clearing with nothing in it.

Gods, I knew I’d told my sister that everything would be fine but… had she been ambushed? Had she been hurt?

No. I’d seen how she’d handled herself before. She’d learned everything Auden had to teach her, which meant…

Again, I glanced over my surroundings, and again, I saw nothing to indicate that even the most basic of human civilization lay nearby.

Even still.

“Ren!” I called into the gathering dusk. “If you’re somewhere nearby, can we please not play seek and find? I have time-sensitive information for my ally.”

I waited for a while after this, perfectly aware that it might take a minute to neutralize any safeguards my sister had placed around her home. In the meantime, I picked at my crudely tied together cloak, wishing I could have retrieved more than this flimsy piece of clothing from my things when fleeing Da’kul. I’d love to have even a basic weapon on me right now, something besides primeancy at least.

Speaking of that…

“Creation, can I get an update on Raimie, please?” I asked.

Stepping into view, my constant nuisance crossed their arms.

“It’s the same as it’s been the last dozen times you’ve asked: unknown,” they said. “What else would you expect? Your ally’s piece of Order is gone.”

And wasn’t that a terrifying thought? What would happen to Raimie now? He was solely a Daevetch primeancer. Given how violent of a reaction I had to that dark energy, how would this affect our relationship? How quick would his descent into insanity be, and once he reached an inevitable point of no return, would I be able to put him down?

Many of these questions were concerns I’d had when Raimie could still access Ele, but they hadn’t been as urgent because I’d believed his use of both energies would slow the process of his fall. Now, I must truly consider them, which I didn’t like.

And that wasn’t even touching everything that accompanied the destruction of an Ele splinter.

“I know it’s silly to ask, but would you please return to the whole and see if you can find any news about him there?” I asked. “It would ease my mind.”

“In that case, of course I’ll go,” Creation said.

As they popped out of view, I shook my head. Ever since overriding me while in Da’kul, they’d been exceedingly polite to me, which I didn’t understand.

How many times had they forcibly pulled me out of situations that they’d deemed too dangerous in the past? They’d never changed their behavior after those past performances, but then, they’d been doing a lot of things I’d never have thought them capable of lately. What had changed?

The sound of a crack, splitting the night, drew me out of my thoughts, and I stared as a cliff face I’d previously passed over… opened. As it gaped wider, it revealed evidence of civilization behind it, and I started laughing. Sometimes, I forgot how ingenious my people could be when it came to the art of survival.

Since what I was seeing was obviously Ren’s home, I started toward it, noting the figure standing in the center of the presented opening. While I took everything in, my sister watched me with a shit-eating grin. Hell, she must be proud of this place, and she should be. No enemy would find it without the greatest of luck.

Doldimar was known to be pretty damn lucky, though.

“So?” Ren said. “What do you think?”

“I think…”

As I trailed off, I looked over a host of people going about their day, much like those from Ada’ir did. They comported themselves as if the threat of violence—should they be discovered—couldn’t touch them.

So resilient.

“I think I missed my home,” I said before facing my sister. “Thank you for the reminder of what Auden’s like at its best.”

“Of course,” Ren said with a toothy grin before waving me into the city. “Shall we?”

Gods, how I’d like to enter this sanctuary. After the last few days, filled with running, a short respite would be welcome but…

“I can’t stay,” I said. “Unless Raimie’s here? I have urgent news for him.”

“I’m sure you do,” Ren said, patting my shoulder. “I’m also sure that it can wait for you to catch your breath. Maybe I can find you something better to wear while we’re at it.”

She bemusedly eyed my cloak, making me wince.

“I wish I could, but there’s no time,” I said. “You didn’t see the army coming for my allies, Ren. I have to get my news to them as quickly as possible.”

The mention of an army made Ren pause, but soon enough, she was smirking at me again.

“How hard have you pushed yourself to get here, Rhy?” she asked. “You must have used a lot of Eselan magic, among other things, too.”

“Of course I did,” I said. “I had to reach my ally as soon as I could.”

With her smirk widening, Ren said, “And you don’t think you’ve gained enough of a head start to take a break?”

She… had a point.

“Fine,” I said. “Better clothes and some weapons would be welcome.”

“Good to see that my big brother can still show sense,” Ren said.

Had that been sarcasm? I didn’t get long to ponder this question as Ren swiftly moved into the city.

Under other circumstances, I might take the time to marvel at this place, a genuine font of human creativity, but I had to know.

“Is Raimie safe? Did you get him back to his people?”

With a side-eyed glance, Ren said, “Don’t you mean your people?”

Right. That was what they should be, wasn’t it?

But as usual, I had a hard time with connecting, with seeing them as anything more than a means to an end.

Except for when it came to Raimie.

“Ren…” I said with a sigh.

Snorting, my sister did a poor job of hiding her smile.

“Raimie’s fine. He and his people have been establishing a base camp for days now,” she said before frowning. “He’s made quite the impression here too.”

Oh, no.

“Does that mean he’s visited?” I asked, trying to keep the question light.

I’d wanted to be present for that. With me as a facilitator, I’d been hoping to ease an inevitably tense introduction, but based on Ren’s short nod, I’d guess that hope had been for naught.

“Most of Tiro hasn’t been receptive to him, given who he is and what it means for them,” she said. “Had-had and I have been doing our best to change their opinions but…”

Grimacing, she raised a hand to wobble it from side to side.

“That hasn’t been going so great.”

Of course it hadn’t. Who wanted a reminder of the reason, no matter how long distant, that one’s life was a disaster? I’d known Raimie’s identity would be a problem for future endeavors, both his and mine, but the only way to alleviate those tensions would be nothing short of a miracle.

So, maybe I should focus my attention elsewhere.

“Had-had?” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh! He’s my brother in all but blood,” she said. “After you left, Tanwadur and Eliade took me in. They already had an adopted son, Kylorian, but you won’t meet him for a while. He’s almost always in greater Auden, helping where he can. Hadrion, or Had-had as I call him, came after me.”

She had a family here. Of course she did. She’d mentioned them when we’d parted, but I hadn’t yet taken the time to consider what that would mean for me.

Would they hate me, the brother who’d left her behind? How much had Ren told them about me? Did they know about my connection to primeancy?

As if summoned by the thought, Creation popped into being not far ahead, and at the sight of them, Ren clicked her tongue. She knew better than to say anything else, though, not with so many people around us. Instead, she diverted us toward an abandoned alley, all while I stared at the splinter.

Something was off about them, more than it had been for the last few months. Their face was pale with their vacant eyes skittering over the roadside, which I didn’t understand. The guise a splinter wore was meant to reassure people that there was nothing to fear, and right now, what Creation was projecting inspired nothing but disquiet in me.

Ren, however, just looked irritated. Once we were out of sight, she spun on Creation while planting her hands on her hips.

“What do you want?” she snapped.

I expected that to rouse Creation from whatever this was, but they merely blinked at my sister for a moment before turning my way.

“Your ally is alive and well,” they dispassionately said.

Raising an eyebrow, I drawled, “Yes… Ren told me. How do you know that?”

Creation slowly shook their head as if unable to believe what they were contemplating.

“I learned his status while checking with the whole,” they said. “His Order piece had recently returned to share it.”

That shot my eyes wide open.

“His Order piece?” I said. “Meaning Bright?”

When Creation nodded, I frowned.

“I thought you said it was destroyed.”

Licking their lips, Creation tried to speak but ended up clearing their throat instead.

“They were. Destroyed, I mean,” they eventually said. “Lighteater wiped them out of existence.”

“Then how…?”

I didn’t know what else to say. So far as I’d been aware, no Ele splinter could recover from a brush with Lighteater, the same as Daevetch splinters couldn’t with Shadowsteal. I’d thought those swords were the only check on otherwise all-powerful beings, but here Creation was, saying my long-held belief was wrong.

“It was your ally,” they said.

With their brow furrowed, they vaguely gestured, struggling with their words.

“He did… something. We’re not sure what yet,” they continued, “but it pulled his Order piece back into being. Unfortunately, they’re still addled, so we haven’t gotten a full report on what happened but…”

With a shiver, Creation shrugged helplessly before chewing on their lip, which was an interesting look on them. I’d never seen them so uncertain before.

Still. According to them, Raimie had done the impossible again. Somehow, this didn’t surprise me. Why didn’t it?

Not that it mattered. To me, this was simply further proof that I’d been right to place my faith in my friend.

“Right! How did I forget that he’s a… one of you?”

Jumping, I snapped my attention to Ren. Somehow, her presence had temporarily slipped from my mind, not that I could blame myself for that. Creation had just shared shocking news.

Even still, that had been sloppy of me and with what I’d been saying, potentially dangerous. If she were anyone else…

Crossing her arms, Ren frowned.

“We’ll have to hope the idiot doesn’t let that piece of information slip as easily as he did with his identity,” she said. “With how much trouble I’m already having getting people on his side, I can only imagine how much more impossible the task would be if that secret got out.”

Hmm. Ren had mentioned it earlier, but still, I had to clarify.

“You’re helping Raimie?” I asked. “From what I saw before, I thought you disdained him.”

To my great surprise, my sister flushed, hugging herself as she looked away.

“He’s not so bad once you get to know him,” she said. “Still unbelievably stupid at times, mind you—”

She gave me a pointed glance before shifting in place.

“—but… not so bad.”

Oh.

“You like him,” I blankly said.

Which had been a mistake. Jerking her head up, Ren started scoffing denials, all while I quashed a smile. That relationship would certainly be interesting to watch.

Apparently unable to handle me, Ren stalked forward to once more join the busy thoroughfare, and chuckling, I glanced at Creation, noting their continued, disconnected state with a sigh.

“Bright’s recovery is a good thing, yes?” I said before giving Creation a moment to acknowledge me. “Then, let’s not question it. You and I both know Raimie’s extraordinary. What’s another example of that?”

Slumping, Creation said, “I know. It’s just concerning as well.”

But then, they glanced toward where Ren had disappeared around a corner, making a face.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“You should hurry and catch up,” they said. “I’m glad you’ve reunited with her. Please, don’t let me disturb that.”

At this, I narrowed my eyes at the splinter. Did that mean they’d known Ren was alive the whole time I’d thought her dead?

I couldn’t get into that issue right now, though, not when my sister was pulling away from me. Taking off in a trot, I hurried after her.

----------------------------------------

Ren had been right about taking a break. Clean and with a fresh set of clothing donned, the problem of an overwhelming army, bearing down on my ally, didn’t seem as daunting.

I wasn’t discounting the danger of it! We were most likely still doomed, but now, I could acknowledge that sharing this information when I was rested and calm would be better for everyone.

When I left my borrowed room, my sister looked up from where she was waiting at the table, glancing me over with a grin.

“You look better,” she said.

“I feel better,” I said with a nod. “Thank you for making me take a break.”

“Of course! I did the same thing often enough when we were kids, right?”

Standing, Ren clasped her hands in front of her with a gleam in her eyes.

“Now, before we head to my family’s place for dinner—and don’t you dare argue with me about that—I have something for you.”

Crossing my arms, I did my best to keep from looking down my nose at her, but when she laughed, I knew I hadn’t done a good job with that. She retreated into the room beside my borrowed one, quickly returning with a wrapped bundle. When she offered it to me, I hesitantly accepted, picking at the cloth’s edge while holding her gaze.

Nodding, she flapped a hand at me.

“Go on! Open it!”

So, I tugged the cloth away, and when I saw what was revealed, my mouth dropped open.

“This is…” I whispered.

Reverently, I lifted a sword and dagger into the light. I’d know these blades anywhere. The chorded, blue tassels hanging from their pommels. The insignia engraved in the center of the dagger’s guard. These were historical masterpieces.

They were also mine. I’d lost them shortly before leaving Auden and upon arriving here, had meant to go looking for them when I had the time. They were possibly the only items that held enough sentimental value for me to undertake such a difficult search.

It seemed I wouldn’t need to make the effort.

Partially withdrawing the sword from its sheath, I examined it for a moment before glancing up at Ren.

“How…?”

She’d know what I meant.

Clasping her elbows, Ren said, “I went home a few days after it was Harvested. Wasn’t sure why I was doing it, but I needed to make the visit, and Dury was kind enough to accommodate it. I found our mother…”

Trailing off, she bit her lip, suddenly finding the fire in the hearth beyond interesting, and I squeezed my eyes closed.

What must that have been like? I remembered what the Kiraak had done to our mother with crystal clarity, but I hadn’t stuck around long enough to view the end result. Reaching my younger sister had seemed more important.

But she’d seen our mother’s remains… gods.

“I buried her,” Ren eventually said. “Couldn’t do the same for the rest of the dead, but I gave them the respect they deserved. I didn’t find our… my father.”

Oh, no.

Cracking my eyes open, I hesitantly said, “Do you think he…?”

With a sigh, Ren shrugged.

“They probably took him, yeah, but there’s no way to confirm it.”

“Damnit,” I breathed.

Why, why, why were these horrible things possible?

After a moment, Ren said, “Anyway, I found those weapons with your things and took them home with me, along with a few other items. Figured you’d want them if you ever found me.”

“Ren, I’m sorry it took so long-”

My sister lifted a hand to stop me.

“You did your best,” she said. “I don’t blame you.”

I could accept that, even if I wasn’t ready to forgive myself for it.

“Well, then,” I said. “Thank you for this.”

After bobbing the sword and dagger in the air, I finished unwrapping them before getting them settled on my hip, and once that was done, a ridiculous amount of tension fled from me. It was amazing how terrifying I found an unarmed state, especially when I was in Auden.

Perhaps seeing my relief, my sister snorted, gathering me in a hug.

“I’ve missed you,” she said into my chest.

And I clutched her to me, this wonderfully impossible survivor of everything I was.

“I’ve missed you too.”

Soon after this, we made our way to the home of Ren’s adoptive family, only to find it bustling when we arrived. We stepped into a kitchen filled with activity, and after a moment, one of the women glanced at us, lighting up when she saw my sister.

“Little bird! Thank Alouin you’re here!” she shouted over clanging pots and pans. “I’m almost finished here. Just need to wrap some rolls for Jariah and Morthasi’s kids. Could you bring a few dishes to the dining room?”

“Sure, Eliade!” Ren called before nudging me. “Come on.”

After balancing two plates in my arms, I followed my sister out of the kitchen, casting a glance over its many inhabitants as I did.

“That was your mother?” I asked as I caught up with Ren.

Smiling, she said, “Yes. You’ll have to forgive how harried she is right now. Tiro’s still struggling with a recent influx of refugees. Lindow was Harvested just last week.”

Making a face, she adjusted her burden so she could open a door.

“Eliade does what she can to help with these things, sometimes taking on more than she can handle,” she continued, “but that’s just her! Never content to let others suffer.”

Unsure how else to respond, I said, “She sounds very kind.”

Ren laughed at that.

“She is! And given what I know of you, the two of you should get along famously,” she said. “Dury, on the other hand…”

“That’s your father?” I asked.

With a nod, Ren said, “Dury’s exceptionally kind to the people he trusts, but earning that trust… it might be difficult for you.”

Fantastic. As if I didn’t have enough trouble with that skill when it came to normal people.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I said, partially to myself.

My sister gave me a doubtful look, but then, she pushed through another set of doors, and I had no more time to prepare.

The dining room was laid out in typical fashion. On the room’s periphery, a few other seats surrounded a table and chairs, and the candelabra on top of this arrangement aided the fireplace in lighting the space. A man sat at the head of the table with his back to us, but when Ren and I entered, he swiveled to his feet, offering us a congenial smile.

“Ren! I wasn’t sure if you’d join us,” he said. “Who’s your friend?”

He looked me over appraisingly while I tried not to squirm from any assumptions he might have made.

“It’s not like that, Dury,” Ren huffed, rolling her eyes. “Please.”

But then, she turned awkward, biting her lip, and I stared at her. Had she not considered how she’d introduce me?

Jerkily stepping aside, Ren waved my way.

“This is… Rhylix,” she said. “My brother.”

Already moving to greet me, the other man paused to give Ren an odd glance.

“Your brother?” he asked.

When Ren nodded, he shrugged before dropping into a short bow.

“Greetings, Rhylix. It’s good to meet you,” he said. “My name is Tanwadur. Please. Join me.”

Gesturing to the table, he took a seat, waiting for me and Ren to deposit our plates on the table and find our own chairs. I was surprised by how easily Tanwadur was taking the revelation of my identity, but for now, I wouldn’t question it.

Once we were settled, he rested his folded hands in front of him.

“I should probably stick with social niceties until my wife joins us,” he said, “but there are certain items that we should discuss sooner rather than later. You are a full-blood Eselan?”

At the tail end of those words, he brushed his eyes over me, and I suppressed a sigh. Prejudice against the Esela was prevalent everywhere in our world, but given the special circumstances, I’d thought it might be longer before I ran into it here.

“I am,” I said, dipping my head in acknowledgment.

Reaching over, Ren patted my thigh.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered. “He’s not like the rest, only asking for your safety.”

Tanwadur’s eyebrows flew into his hairline.

“Indeed. My apologies if I indicated anything else,” he said. “I wanted to confirm because if it is so, then you should make yourself scarce until Tiro’s residents have gotten used to you, which I’m sure they’ll quickly do. Free Esela are so rare nowadays, what with Doldimar killing them when he finds stragglers. I’m sure you can understand.”

Oh, how well I did. Even still, I had to wonder if Tanwadur had brought up the question of my race merely with the intention of keeping me safe or if he was suspicious of whether I was affiliated with that evil overlord. After all, Doldimar also liked making Esela into Kiraak.

“I appreciate your concern,” I said, “but I don’t mean to stay in Tiro long enough for that to be a problem. As soon as I’ve gotten some rest, I’ll depart your city, and what a fair city it is! I never thought to find somewhere so untroubled in Auden.”

That probably hadn’t helped with soothing Tanwadur’s suspicions, but honestly? I didn’t much care. I’d spoken the truth, and while I wasn’t trying to make a bad impression on this man, I refused to put a full façade on with him. I’d done that long enough in Allanovian.

He, however, appeared unruffled.

“I’m glad you like it. Making Tiro safe has been a worthwhile endeavor,” he said, “But given your appreciation, I’m surprised you want to leave us so soon. As Ren’s brother, you have an open invitation to stay with us, and I’d think that after so long apart, you’d want to spend more time with your sister.”

That made me wince. Yes, I’d love to catch up with Ren, and if circumstances had been any different, I’d do just that. As it was, I was uncomfortable with how long I’d already stayed here.

How did I relay that without sharing too much information, though?

Before I could answer the question, the door behind Tanwadur sprang open, and the woman from the kitchen hustled inside, burdened with more dishes.

“You’d better not be interrogating our guest already, Dury,” she said. “Come help me with these.”

Tanwadur and Ren leapt to their feet so they could assist, and I followed their example, if more slowly. When it was my turn to take something from this woman, though, she shook her head at me with a huff.

“You sit back down, darling, although I thank you for your kindness,” she said. “You’re our guest tonight, and that means we treat you as one, no matter how much my husband may like to forget it at times.”

Rolling his eyes, Tanwadur said, “I was only warning him to stay wary while he’s here, Eliade.”

“Which I am sure he already knows to do, as any proper Audish citizen should,” Eliade said.

But then, she lightly pecked Tanwadur’s cheek.

“Sit down, love,” she said. “It’s time to eat.”

Grumbling under his breath, Tanwadur did as he’d been told with the rest of us joining him, although Eliade stayed on her feet with her hands on her hips.

“Where’s Hadrion?” she said. “I swear. That boy’s sense of time…”

As if summoned, a plain-looking teenager burst into the room, hurrying for a chair and chattering all the while.

“I’m here! I’m here! No need to get upset!”

Sighing, Eliade shook her head, moving to a seat while Hadrion started serving himself from the food in front of him, never minding the stranger in his midst.

Meanwhile, I took this in with a bemused smile. It had been a while since such normalcy surrounded me, and I must admit. I’d missed it.

Lightly slapping her son’s hand, Eliade said, “Hadrion! Mind your manners! We have a guest tonight. Perhaps you should introduce yourself?”

Hadrion never stopped shoveling peas onto his plate, although he honored me with a gap-toothed grin.

“Hullo. I’m Hadrion,” he said. “Sorry for being so rude, but I’ve been busy today. I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry, Had-had,” Ren sighed.

When she snatched the serving spoon from him, he made a face, and I did my best not to laugh.

“No apology is necessary. I know what being hungry is like,” I said. “My name’s Rhylix.”

While Hadrion screwed his face up, the rest of his family started serving themselves, but I waited my turn. The food in front of me smelled to die for, especially after weeks of nothing but hardtack, but I was perfectly aware of the impression I should make on these people. Even if I refused to fully hide myself, I could still exercise my manners.

“Rhylix,” Hadrion said, tapping on his chin. “Where have I heard that name before?”

“He’s my brother,” Ren said. “Yes, the one from my stories.”

While Hadrion’s eyes went wide, Eliade softly chuckled. Tanwadur stayed notably silent with no expression on his face. What was he thinking?

“But… aren’t you supposed to be dead?” Hadrion blurted out. “It’s been so long-”

Cuffing the back of his head, Eliade snapped, “Hadrion!”

Squinting, the teenager rubbed his scalp while I grimaced.

“No, please. He’s right to ask that,” I said. “It has been a long time since I last saw my sister, and because of that, I must thank you all. You’ve provided Ren with a loving home, something I could only dream of doing, and I’m grateful to you for it.”

“Oh, aren’t you sweet?” Eliade said. “But really, Ren’s been a blessing to us, and I thank Alouin for every day she’s stayed in our lives.”

Ren blushed at that, and keeping my lips flat, I nodded to Eliade before tucking into my meal and gods…

Groaning, I let my eyes flutter closed while leaning back in my chair.

“You like it?” Hadrion asked.

“This meal is the most delicious one to pass over my tongue in a long while,” I said before meeting Eliade’s eye. “My compliments to the chef.”

With her lips twitching, Eliade said, “Thank you, but it wasn’t just me in the kitchen, you know.”

“Don’t let her modesty fool you. My wife is an excellent cook,” Tanwadur said before turning to said woman. “I’m lucky to have her.”

“Aww…” Eliade murmured.

She laid a hand over his while Hadrion gagged and Ren snorted, and I took the opportunity to fully indulge in my fare. Once conversation resumed, who knew when there would be another break in it?

So far, this had been going better than I’d expected. I’d thought for sure that these people would express hostility toward me, but perhaps that was perceptions from my past coloring my view. Perhaps I should learn that not everyone would automatically hate me. Raimie had certainly proven that point over the last year.

I should get back to him.

Not quite yet, though. How many times must I remind myself that he could wait until morning?

After quite a while of companionable silence, Tanwadur cleared his throat.

“So. Rhylix. Why don’t you tell us about yourself?” he said. “I must admit. I was quite shocked when our little bird told me she’d run into you last week. Such good fortune didn’t seem possible, and yet, here you are.”

And we’d moved back into a tricky topic. How did I explain myself without alienating these people?

“Trust me. I know how unbelievable my reunion with Ren must seem. I still find myself questioning it,” I said. “You must understand. For over a decade, I thought Ren was dead. I was doing my best, trying to live with… what I did to her.”

Abruptly, Eliade reached for me.

“You did the only thing you could,” she said. “If you’d stayed with our little bird, you’d likely have died, and no one here would have wanted that.”

The others at the table nodded or mumbled their agreement, although Tanwadur seemed more hesitant about it, and Eliade continued on.

“Besides, you gave us the opportunity to raise a wonderful young woman, a task that I’ve not once regretted doing. She’s a good daughter and an amazing sister.”

“Maybe to Ky,” Hadrion grumbled. “She can be an absolute pest with me.”

Ren stuck her tongue out at him while her adoptive parents laughed, and I rapidly blinked, trying to clear my misty vision.

“I wish I could have been here,” I said.

Clicking her tongue, Ren grabbed my arm, hugging it to her.

“From what you’ve shared, that would have been quite impossible,” she said, “so stop beating yourself up for it.”

Like that would ever happen.

“Yes, what was it you’ve shared with her, or have you forgotten my original question?” Tanwadur said. “Please. Tell us about yourself. I’d like to know which of my daughter’s incredible stories about you are true.”

I quirked an eyebrow at Ren—how much had she shared?—but she shook her head. I took that to mean that any secrets she knew were safe.

That was good. I wouldn’t have to explain my way out of possible tales of primeancy.

“What would you like to know?” I asked.

“Oo! Ren says you’re a master with the sword,” Hadrion said. “Could you teach me?”

That wasn’t a question I’d been expecting, which had me shifting in my seat.

“Perhaps. As I’ve said, I plan to leave Tiro in the morning, and my situation may delay any return I might make,” I said. “Besides, I’m sure Ren’s exaggerated my skill. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”

All true. Ren had likely embellished what she believed my skill level to be, and given that, those exaggerations might be uncomfortably close to the truth. I also didn’t want to disappoint the boy.

Making a face, Hadrion nodded acceptance of my words while his father drew breath to speak, but Eliade stepped in before he could.

“You’re gracious with him, considering that his question was quite rude. You barely know one another, Hadrion!” she said. “Perhaps something a bit more polite should come next. So, tell us, Rhylix. What is it that you do to survive in our kingdom?”

While that was indeed a polite question, it made me no less uncomfortable. The question would require me to tell a half-truth.

“I’m a healer,” I said. “Some find my skills useful enough to provide me with what I need to live.”

My confession had Ren snorting into a glass of water while Eliade raised an eyebrow, but I couldn’t blame my sister for the reaction. Healing hadn’t been my focus when she’d known me.

“That’s wonderful! Healing’s such a rare trade to claim!” Eliade exclaimed. “You’re lucky to have those skills!”

“Yes, indeed,” Tanwadur said. “I’m curious where you could have learned them, though, or learned them well enough to make a living at least. As my wife said, that knowledge is rare.”

Eliade swiped at his arm, but I waved away the apologetic glance she directed my way.

“It’s a fair question,” I said. “In answer, good sir, I’d tell you that I didn’t learn my healing skills in Auden. In fact, since shortly after losing Ren, I’ve been living… elsewhere.”

I wasn’t sure if my sister had told them about my affiliation with Raimie, although I’d be surprised if she hadn’t. Still, it was why I’d hedged, even knowing such an effort would likely gain me nothing.

As I’d thought, Ren’s adoptive family had paused in their meal while she’d buried her face in her hands, and in the resulting silence, I took another bite, keeping my chewing quiet.

“I take that to mean you’re one of the rabble who’s poisoned our land,” Tanwadur eventually said, “which also means you’ve allied with him. Have you no sense of decency or pride in your homeland?”

As I cocked my head at him, Eliade gained a white-knuckled grip on her husband’s arm, and both Hadrion and Ren tried to disappear into their chairs.

After taking another bite, I said, “I’m not sure what you’re insinuating, but yes. I’ve returned home with a group of soldiers from across the sea, people whose only intention is to help Auden.”

Please, say that Tanwadur would keep his cool. I’d like to finish this lovely meal without interruption, and I wasn’t sure what would happen if he continued with this hostility.

Unfortunately, he was visibly seething at me now, and seeing this, Eliade faced him.

“Dury, love-” she started.

“No!”

Throwing her hand off of him, Tanwadur banged a fist on the table.

“I won’t hear of this! How can you think of protecting someone who’d support him?” he spat. “That boy doesn’t deserve to breathe Audish air, much less help us. Fat lot of good it’ll do, I’m sure. I’m having a hard enough time with my family singing his fucking praises. I won’t have one of his supporters at my table. How weak of a mind must you have, sir, to be taken in by someone so duplicitous, so cowardly, so evil-”

“ENOUGH!”

As that roar echoed in the room, I realized I was on my feet with my chair on the floor behind me. The insults that had been hurled at me had raised nothing from inside, but when this ignorant idiot had started in on Raimie…

I didn’t know what had come over me. White-hot heat had flashed through me, melting each of the masks I typically wore, and I didn’t know why.

Perhaps it was because of who Raimie had become to me. Months ago, when I’d shared how important I found friendship, I might have underplayed my convictions about it. If my past had taught me anything, it was that the people who called you friend were the most precious in the world, only overshadowed by whoever became your family.

So, if Tanwadur wanted to throw insults at me? Let him. I’d endured far worse. But Raimie…?

Leaning forward, I rested my fingertips on the table, letting Tanwadur catch a rare glimpse of everything that lay behind my masks, and he flinched.

“Raimie is a good man, one of the best I’ve ever known. He possesses something near unheard of in this day: an innate sense of decency and the drive to see his end goals done,” I said. “Do not let your fear of him blind you to everything he truly is.

“I am Audish, and despite my absence from this kingdom, I have endured the suffering that’s inherent for one such as us. I have just as much of a right to disdain Raimie, but having come to know him, I can say without hesitation that I will never hate or judge him. He is the only one who might free this land from the true evil it faces.

“Perhaps you should do the same before you reject him or defame his character as much as you have with me.”

Pausing, I watched Tanwadur, making sure he’d heard me, but when he took a breath to speak, I turned to Eliade, dismissing him.

“I must thank you for the superb meal, Mistress Eliade. You have been a gracious hostess,” I said. “Unfortunately, my fatigue has caught up with me. With your permission, I’ll take my leave to address that problem.”

Hesitantly, Eliade nodded at me, and even with the ice that had me in its grip, I internally winced. I hadn’t meant to scare this family.

“My thanks,” I said.

With a final sip of water, I left the table, storming out of the dining room, and behind me, a chair scraped across the floor while someone mumbled probable excuses.

When she caught up, my sister said, “Rhy…”

“Not now, Ren,” I said. “I’m sorry, but not now.”

Thankfully, she gave me space. In silence, she followed me to her home, speaking not a word when I entered my room and shut the door behind me.