Between the food and sleeping on the forest floor, by the time Del got back to the zig-zag roads of the elven town, she was tired again. And more than a little sore. She was almost happy to see a group of elves led by Entoris, heading toward them. She hadn’t been looking forward to a trek up to the castle.

Now out of the heavy tree cover, she could see it was late afternoon. The little castle town hummed with sound and activity in preparation of the evening meal. The villagers gave the group of lords and rangers a wide berth and many stopped and lowered their heads when they passed. Del scowled when she saw a woman with a baby on her hip drop to one knee. No one in the procession looked at her.

“I am glad you have returned. We have much to discuss,” Entoris said when he reached her. He gestured down another road leading away from the town, either to an out-of-the-way village hall or back to the castle. But Del just stared at him.

“We don’t though,” she said. “I’m not staying. Say your piece. I owe you that much. But when you are done, I’ll be going.”

Behind her, she heard Maug exhale sharply. Entoris dropped his arm to his side with a weary sigh. Kroan’s face turned red and pinched and Leon’s lips curled between a smile and a scowl. The rangers even looked a little angry, but they kind of always looked angry.

“Evandella, please. You’ve had your time to find yourself, to adventure. But now you must reconsider your denial. You need to take your place.”

“Is that what you think I was doing? Having an adventure?” Anger threatened to overwhelm her again. She took a deep breath before she continued. “I did not leave you because I needed to find myself. I found myself, so I had to leave. I haven’t been adventuring, I’ve been living. Living my life the way I want to, the way I want to continue living it.” She saw the sorrow in Entoris’ face and the disappointment. Always the disappointment. It had stung when she was younger. If she was honest with herself, it stung a little now, too.

Kroan snorted and tilted his head to one side.

“We should let her go, my Lord. She was always resistant, but this…she would be a terrible candidate now. Nothing but a petty beggar thief and, even worse, with a filthy dirtpaw.” He wrinkled his nose and turned toward Entoris to continue, but whatever he was going to say turned into a frightened squeak.

Del had pulled her dagger and launched herself at Kroan before the rangers could react. ‘Too long with no real threats,’ she thought scornfully. She held a handful of the Kroan’s hair in one hand and her dagger at his throat in the other. A tiny drop of blood was leaking from the man’s dark skin where her dagger dug into his flesh.

“I’m sorry, my lord, I interrupted you. Please continue,” she said, smiling up at him. Koran was taller than her, but when he tried to look down she forced his head back roughly. He closed his eyes and whimpered instead.

People were yelling around her but it was a gentle pressure on her arm that drew her attention. It was Entoris, standing beside her looking worried.

“Put the knife down,” he whispered. She saw his relief when she let go of Kroan’s hair and he stumbled away. And she saw the rangers lower the bows they’d been pointing at her.

Del felt angry and ashamed. Angry because Entoris refused, had always refused, to treat her as anything but a child. Ashamed because she had just acted like a child. She looked at all of them, letting their predictable reactions feed her contempt. Entoris’ disappointment, Leon’s knowing, mocking smile, Kroan’s whimpering from where he hid behind the rangers. When she spoke, her voice was soft, but there was venom in her words.

“I am not your queen. I have never wanted to be your queen. I am leaving,” she glanced at the rangers, “and if you try to stop me, I will fight you.” She turned and took Maug by the elbow and started toward the forest's edge. She hopped very much no one shot them in the back.

“We are all dying.” There was so much sadness in Entoris’ words, her steps faltered. Despite their past, he was the only real father she had ever known. “Not just the elves. The land itself is dying around us. You are the only one that can stop it.”

Anger flared in her again. “You have been putting the weight of a kingdom on my shoulders since I was a child. Now you want to burden me with the weight of the world?”

"A price must be paid," he said. “It is up to you to decide who pays it. If a Wranbanise does not take the throne soon, Orvesa will be forever changed.”

“Horse shit,” Del blurted. “A Wranbanise already has the throne.”

“One in name only. He does not have the blood. And that is what matters.”

“Horse shit,” she said again. She felt Maug flinch beside her. “You can’t honestly think my blood is magic.”

“You know it is.” Entoris looked confused. “I taught you that magic.” He gestured to the ring around her neck.

“It’s a long leap from blood controlling a ring and blood controlling the world.”

“I should have told you more,” he sighed. “I meant to tell you more. We,” he gestured to the elves and the village, “are tied to the land, all the land of Orvesa. And it is tied to us. Our magic runs through it, comes from it. Our numbers have dwindled, but that magic remains. 600 years ago we tied our magic to the Wranbanise family, for a debt that could never be repaid but also because we were afraid. We were afraid of what would become of the world without our magic, without our control.” He shook his head and smiled, “but we didn’t fully understand what we had done. We extended our control but added a weakness. The magic weakens without a Wranbanise just as it would weaken without us.”

“Horse…” Maug put a hand on her shoulder. His face pale and worried under his hat.

“We’ve seen it,” he breathed.

“What?” Del asked. “Seen what?”

“The magic,” he muttered, suddenly blushing. “We’ve seen the…magic, or whatever it is, failing. The towns with no crops, no livestock. Remember?” He looked surprised at his own words.

“Yes,” Entoris nodded at Maug, who looked rather sick at having spoken up. “And the magic here is failing the most. We can not reach out like we once did. The magic of the forest itself is fading away. We are fading.”

Del looked at the Lord of Bellon, really looked at him, for the first time since she’d come back. It was easy to see the Entoris she’d always known, so little changed by time it would never be obvious to her. But it was now. The new lines around his eyes, the extra gray in his hair, the sadness in his eyes that was never there before.

“Don’t put this on me,” she whispered. “Please.”

It had always been an abstract thing, her heritage. She was expected to be queen. But she hadn’t wanted that, knew she would fail at it, and that was enough. That knowledge had always been enough to say no. To selfishly hold on to her freedom from it all. The kingdom would be better off without her at its head.

But now, it wasn’t better. Now she faced a real consequence of saying no. Entoris, her family, her home, would perish. She felt black inside for not caring about the rest, the magic, the land, and the other people who would suffer. They were abstract, but this man had given her love when no one else had, welcomed her when she had nothing, saved her life in more ways than she could say.

“I…” tears filled her eyes. She tried to ignore the rest of them; the rangers, Leon, Kroan, even Maug. What she had to say, what she would do, was for him, so it had to be said for him alone. “I will…”

“There is another way.” Entoris said. It took a moment for his words to reach her, for her to understand them.

“Another,” she stumbled on the thought, “another way? I don’t understand.”

“There is another that could take the throne,” Entoris answered quietly.

“And better suited, I would imagine.” Leon was smiling again and looking disturbingly satisfied.

“Enough, Lord Leon,” Entoris barked. “Help Kroan back to the castle. He needs to rest.”

Leon bowed slightly, still smiling, and moved to Kroan’s side, but Kroan jerked his arm away when Leon tried to lead him away.

“Is there to be no punishment?” Spittle flew from his mouth as he pointed at Del. He still held his hand to the place where her dagger had touched his throat, though the bleeding had stopped almost as soon as she’d pulled the knife away. Entoris sighed. Del took a step toward Kroan. The man collided with the ranger behind him, trying to retreat.

“I am sorry,” she held her hands up as she spoke. “Long days without food or sleep caused me to act unwisely. As I’m sure the shock of everything that has happened,” she waved vaguely around the village, “caused you to speak harshly of myself and my companion.”

“An apology will suffice for now,” Entoris said and nodded to Leon. They moved off, though Kroan still looked very unsatisfied. One ranger left with them. The one remaining continued to glare at Del and Maug in turn. He, at least, was unimpressed by her royal status. She found she liked him for that.

“He will be in an uproar for days,” Entoris said. “You remember how long it took him to get over the frog incident?”

“What do you mean, another way? There’s no other Wranbanise. You always told me there were no others…”

“Yes, I told you that. And it was true you were King Emindel’s only surviving child. A couple of distant relations remained, but even they are gone now. Emindel’s line begins and ends with you.”

“But…”

“But there is another Wranbanise.”

“How? And why didn’t you tell me?”

“I am sorry,” Entoris said. “I always meant to tell you, to prepare you, but when I saw your reluctance, I was afraid you would use it to close yourself off from the throne forever. He is…not a suitable candidate.”

“Why? Where did he come from? I still don’t understand.”

“Come, let us sit,” he motioned to a small clearing not far from where they stood, with stumps in an irregular circle. “My legs are tired. Maugrian, please join us.”

Del slumped after him, unasked questions nearly bursting from her. Maug followed slowly, obviously torn between being pleased and frightened at being included.

“Before you were born,” the elf started once they were all seated, “your father had an older brother.”

“Yes, mother told me about him. Rainan, I think, was his name. But he died.”

“He did. A hunting accident. At least that is the story his parents told. I am unsure if that is truly what happened. Rainan was a wild boy and liked to be wherever there was trouble, almost from the day he could walk. I suspect he found more trouble than he could handle, and his parents tried to cover their shame.”

“But if he died…”

“As I said, your uncle liked trouble. He had a relationship with an…unsavory woman before he died. There was a rumor of a child, a daughter. But only a rumor. I imagine your grandparents paid handsomely to ensure it was never more than that. We never pushed because there was no need. There was your father, your half-brother, and then you.”

“And then we all failed,” Del said.

“No, none of you failed, Evandella. But things happened. It was suddenly important to find out if your cousin was more than a rumor. She was not.”

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“So, you found her? And she knows she is an heir to the throne?”

“Not exactly,” Entoris answered. “Rainan’s daughter, Dana, died young and unmarried, much like her father. But not before she had a son, Wymar. That is who we found.”

Del sat in silence, unable to put words to all the questions and rebukes that had been on the tip of her tongue earlier.

“Evandella, you must understand that we never intended to rely on this boy. His status as the bastard of the king's brother's bastard would prevent him from being seen as a good king.

“But a bastard daughter is more acceptable?” Del asked.

“You,” Entoris smiled, “are different. You are the product of love and the king’s own child.”

She snorted so loud that Maug jumped beside her.

“You mean I was the one you were able to guide, so I was the better option. The only option you wanted.”

To her surprise, the old elf nodded.

“Yes. We educated you. We knew you. So we had no need for another we knew nothing about.”

“And what about me? You knew I didn’t want this. You knew I suffered under those expectations. But you never told me.”

“If I had, would you have even considered taking on your role?”

“No,” Del admitted. “I would not.”

“That is why I didn’t tell you, even when you were older. Even when it became clear you would leave us. I hoped, even then, you would come back to us. I was selfish.”

“You were selfish?” Del was surprised again to hear her own feelings given back by another.

“I was. Which is why I tell you now. Because I owe you that and because for this young man to take the throne, I will need your help. We were trying to bring him to Bellon, to keep him safe. But it seems our plans are running into trouble.”

“How?”

“I shortsightedly spoke out against the appointment of Gisemere, the current king. I told the council there was a proper heir. After, when I learned of Wymar, I sought to have the boy brought to safety. I believe they assumed he was the heir I had spoken of.” He sighed. “Gisemere’s King’s Guard is in pursuit and they have placed high bounties for the return of a wealthy young man to his ‘family’. Every bandit, thief, and beggar between Gidura and Bellon is looking for him now.”

“Oh Gods,” Maug groaned.

“We heard rumors in Aurelia,” Del said with a sideways glance at Maug. Entoris nodded.

“You must retrieve him, tell him of his heritage, and see him safely to Kingsland.”

“Kingsland? I thought he was to be brought here?”

“That plan is pointless now. Our magic is failing, and our numbers are too few to hold off an assault. With you, and the Ring of Proving, Wymar can contest Gisemere’s rule. If he makes it to the capital alive.”

“Why do you think we can get him there if you couldn’t?”

“The people I could send were not the best. Elves would have drawn notice.”

That was an understatement, Del thought. A Velli elf hadn’t been seen outside of Bellon in so long some people didn’t even believe they existed. The Aurelias were arrogant, but at least they still believed in living in the world.

“I assume,” Entoris continued, standing and stretching his long limbs, “that you have learned certain skills that can help in this endeavor.” Del gave him a half smile and nodded. He turned to Maug. “And you, Maugrian Bilkan, I would ask you to take on this task as well. Our cousins in Zersapi have always been known to us for their helpful nature.”

Del saw the color rise in Maug’s face. She knew Entoris had not meant the words as an insult. No Larchpaw would see it as one even if it was. But Maug did not fit the expectations of his people. She feared his hatred of that association would be the one thing that could overcome his awe of the Velli.

“Maug is a skilled tracker and can match anyone in hand-to-hand combat. He is fierce. I owe him my skill and my life many times over. I know I could not do what you ask without him.” Her words came out in a rush and she was as red as Maug by the time she was finished.

Maug swallowed whatever he was going to say and looked from Entoris and Del. Finally, he just shrugged and grinned the way he did when he was being mischievous. Swiping his hat off, he bowed gracefully to Del.

“I would be happy to help, of course,” he said.

Del surprised herself by laughing.

“You know there’s probably no reward now?” She asked. “And it’ll require us to trek through most of Aurelia. And it’ll be the two of us against most of the King’sGuard, and who knows how many bounty hunters?”

“You wound me,” Maug said dramatically in mock hurt. “When have I ever been in it for the money?” Del wrinkled her nose at him.

“Well,” Entoris cleared his throat. “Yes, that is good.” He looked like he questioned whether it was truly good, but thought better of rescinding his offer now. “I can’t help with your task much, but there is something I can do to fix at least one of those problems.”

He left the circle of dead trees to rejoin the ranger, who had been waiting at the edge of the village.

“Thank you,” Del said when Entoris was out of earshot. “For agreeing to come with me.”

Maug waved a hand at her dismissively. “What was I going to do, stay here? Wonder the creepy woods? Go back to ‘magic is dying and everything is awful’ land? No, this was honestly the best option for me.”

“Are you trying to convince yourself or me?” Del grinned at him. “Because, honestly, I might take creepy woods and everything is awful to escorting my distant bastard cousin to a throne he probably doesn’t want either.”

“Nah, until we get this magic thing fixed, there won’t be anybody worth robbing outside of Aurelia. And I do not want to spend the rest of my days there.” He shuddered.

“Yeah, good point.”

They sat in silence for some time. Del felt more tired than she could ever remember being. She sat beside one of the stumps and let herself relax against it, watching Tafa chasing and hooting loudly at every stick, leaf, and bug in the clearing, Maug cheering her on from beside his own stump. For the first time since coming back to Bellon, she allowed herself to really feel the place, her home, to smell the rich, earthy air and hear the music of falling water and humming nature that always played here, to feel the damp moss beneath her hands.

The sensations seeped into her. It was satisfying, like coming home after a long day. But it was also hollow, like leaving a place knowing you will never be back. The feelings mixed and she was left with a melancholy tinged at the edges with happiness. Well, she thought, I’ve had worse.

Entoris found all three of them asleep when he returned at dusk. The noise of a table being placed in the clearing woke them. Aside from the small team of villagers laying out food and drinks, Entoris had only the tall ranger Albaran accompanying him, who appeared as sour as ever.

Once the table was laid, they sat down to a silent meal. Entoris seemed lost in his thoughts. Del, still groggy, focused most of her attention on eating and trying to keep Tafa off the table. Albaran was staring so disgustedly at the little komarak, she was afraid for Tafa to get too close to him. She noticed the ranger’s expression didn’t change when he shifted to staring at Maug. Maug noticed and would occasionally give the other elf little waves or winks.

By the time they finished the meal, Del felt exhausted all over again. Night was falling around them and the forest was a symphony of gentle noises. Maug, to her surprise, looked equally lulled by their surroundings. He sat once again with his back to a stump, Tafa curled on one of his shoulders and eyes very far away. Albaran stepped into her line of sight, staring down at her with a scowl, which she happily returned. Entoris cleared his throat loudly behind the ranger.

“I told you there was something I could do to help you with the task I have given you.” Albaran stepped to one side to let Lord Entoris speak. “I must be quick and you must be on your way by morning. And it would be best if you kept the exact nature of where you are going to yourself.” Del gave him a questioning look. “The other lords are happy you refuse the throne and will be happy to see you gone,” he sighed, “but I do not think they would agree with my decision to have you accompany Wymar.”

“What?” Del laughed and gave him a half smile. “You are The Lord of Bellon. Lord of the Velli. Why are you concerned about what the likes of Leon or Kroan think?” His concern about the opinions of the other lords made her uncomfortable, although she couldn’t say why. Albaran was staring at her even harder now. She had to fight the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

“Things are … shifting,” Entoris said. He said the words like he was testing them out for the first time. “Our world is changing, and people are changing with it. I think there are some who would like a different place when things are settled again.”

This made Del even more uncomfortable, but she couldn’t imagine what she could do about it. Velli inner politics was something she’d worked her entire life to stay out of. Entoris understood her dilemma and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“The best thing you can do for me is exactly what you are. Leave Bellon, and see Wymar to the capital. I will see to the rest.”

“I will do as you ask.” I will stop being a headstrong girl for once and repay some small part of all I owe you, was what she meant. She wished her words were closer. But Entoris nodded and gave her shoulder a grateful squeeze before letting go.

“I will have some small packages delivered here to you before dawn,” he continued. “Things you may need. That and Albaran are all I can offer you. I hope that will be enough.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Maug said, sitting up. It took Del a few more heartbeats to understand why Maug looked appalled.

“You’re sending Albaran with us?” Del tried to put as much patience and calm into the question as she could, remembering her desire to stop letting anger be her primary emotion. For his part, the ranger looked like he was even more disgusted with the idea than Maug.

“I am,” Entoris nodded. “He is perhaps the last person in Bellon I can trust completely, and he has been helping coordinate Wymar’s protection, so he will be needed to find your cousin and carry him forward. He is talented and, above that, he is good.” Albaran seemed torn between pride at his Lord’s words and deep displeasure at the task. Del gave a tight nod.

“Del, you’re not serious?” Maug stood up. “Look, I appreciate the offer,” he said, “but we’d be better off on our own. I’m sure a ranger is good in the woods, but we aren’t going to the woods. Very far from it.”

“You think a sizuhs is more capable than a ranger of Bellon?” Albaran asked, turning toward him. Maug smiled and stepped toward him, sweeping off his hat as he did. He was shorter than the ranger, but was also broader across the shoulders and heavier. Maug’s brown hair was in disarray, the twig-like bits at odd angles from being under the hat. Del got the impression that, for the first time since she had known him, Maug was showing off his Larchpaw features.

“I don’t know what that is you keep calling me, Al, but I’m thinking you intend to be insulting, yes? I’m real sorry that’s not working out for you,” Maug’s tone was anything but apologetic. “Look, I’m sure reading moss and sniffing komarak dung is very helpful here, in this lovely quiet forest. And harassing lost travelers is sure to be a great boon somewhere. But those aren’t exactly the skills we will be needing in the capital.”

Albaran’s scowl deepened with every word. Del tried to hide her amusement.

"Maug..." she began, but Albaran interrupted her.

"I think your people are more agreeable when they know their place, little sizuhs. It seems like you were left behind before you could learn how to bow, scrape, and whine like dirtpaws are supposed to. I think I can understand why.”

Del knew it was coming before Albaran finished his first sentence and stepped between the two elves, grabbing Maug’s right arm before turning to Entoris. She didn’t look at the ranger and didn’t look at the dagger she knew would be in Maug’s hand.

“If this is what passes for a ranger of Bellon now, I think I will have to decline the offer of help after all,” she said to Entoris with as much composure as she could while trying to stop a stabbing. His lined face was a mix of anger and, for some reason, sadness. He nodded once to Del and walked a distance from the clearing. The ranger followed, head held high. She could see them talking, but they were too far to hear. She let go of Maug’s arm.

“You ok?”

“Seriously?” He gave a quick snort. “I’ll take more than an overgrown tree weasel to bother me.” Del wisely chose not to mention the dagger still in his hand. “But we are not taking him.”

“Maug, we spent days looking for this kid and we were always two steps behind and still nearly got caught. Now we can’t even ask questions. How do you think we are going to find him without Albaran?”

“Pfft. We don’t need Al. We’ll figure something out.”

“Maug…”

“What? We always do, don’t we?”

“No,” she answered seriously. “We don’t always. Sometimes we give up because the thing is too hard, or too stupid, or too expensive. Only, we can’t give up this time. This is too important.”

“You want this guy along?”

“No, of course not. He’s awful. But he knows where Wymar is. We need him at least until we find the kid.” Del gave him a grin. “And we can spend the time making fun of him, maybe even lose him a few times just to see what happens.”

“And get a dagger in the eye while we sleep?”

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “But it would still be worth it.”

“Fine.” Maug shook his head. “But I don’t plan on making it easy on him. If he can’t keep up, we leave him.”

“That’s fair,” Del said, feeling relieved.

“And he better keep his mouth shut, or he’ll be the one worried about daggers in the night.”

Del winced at the comment, but kept quiet. She needed both of them, but if she had to choose, she knew whose side she’d fall on, even if it meant wandering Aurelia for a year.

When Entoris and Albaran returned to the clearing a moment later, the ranger looked stiff and his eyes were still hard, but to Del’s shock, he bowed his head to Maug and apologized. She could see the physical strain in the dark elf’s tight fists and clenched jaw. Surprise and amusement warred on Maug’s face.

“Yeah, alright. You can come, Al.” He replaced his hat and sat against one stump. “I suppose it’s only fair, since it’s your mess we’re going to fix.”

The ranger's gold eyes glittered, but he remained silent. Entoris shook his head and sighed before turning back to Del.

“Rest and ready yourself for the journey. I will have what you need here by first light.” He turned and walked into the village. Del awkwardly watched his retreating back, feeling some disappointment. What has she expected, a grand and tearful farewell? She had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with the Velli after all.

Albaran walked to the center of the clearing and stood, hands held stiffly at his sides, looking over the village.

“He is right, it may be a long while before we can rest again,” Del said, before laying down with her hands behind her head. “You should sleep, too.”

“I will keep watch.” The ranger did not look at her when he spoke.

“Watch for what, squirrels?” Maug mumbled from under his hat.

“I am surprised you are not more grateful, Larchpaw, that I am willing to save you again. Or would you rather try to outrun a gorval a second time?” Maug stiffened where he sat.

“Yes, well, we are certainly grateful for that and for your watching us tonight. We should rest now,” Del said and tried to sleep.