“Cyrus, why are you so insistent on bringing this up now?”

“Because I know Quin would want you to move on, and he is a very eligible bachelor and I think you would like him if you got to know him more.”

“Cyrus, the man didn’t know that there was a library in the capital. The place where two of the three largest and most well known libraries in the entire empire are located.”

“So the guy doesn’t do a lot of reading. Quin didn’t read a lot either!”

“Quincy also wrote, first of all. Secondly, I can say for certain that Quincy read books. He just did not read for pleasure.”

“Okay but maybe you could teach this guy to read. Aren’t there a lot of romances where the beautiful noblewoman tames the wild warrior and brings him into higher society?”

“Those men can usually read, and if they cannot it is because they were peasants and laborers before becoming warriors. Sir Donnely is the son of a baronet.”

As the two walked along the beautiful grove tucked away on an island near the far shore of the Moon’s Lament, the lake that the Moon River drains into, they marveled at the beauty and complexity of the grove that Sir Vandron spent the better of three hundred years perfecting.

“How is Vandron only a knight, and how is he in the junior position of leadership within the Imperial Mage Corps. Wasn’t he a headmaster for a few decades at the wizard’s college or mage school or whatever it is being called now?”

“It is called an arcane university, and the reason is partially political. Uncle Vandron has only been a member of the Mage Corps since just before the previous emperor’s death. He only took the position because it was supposed to be a temporary appointment while he ran a joint research project. Father said that Vandron would come and visit him every so often before he met mother, after he was expelled from the university.”

Cyrus gave a tight lipped nod at the mention of Colette’s parents. From last he was informed by his people stationed in Lainebari, she hadn’t heard from either of them since the funeral. She had openly declared at the service that any suitor her parents sent would be forced to duel Cyrus, and since none of the nobles would dare duel a commoner that reduced the numbers they sent by quite a lot. That also reminded him of an appointment.

“Ah right, Sorin is here for the duel. He thinks he will defeat me this time. Apparently, he wrote a missive to Master Kai and the man revealed every single weakness I had when I left his martial training hall. I have managed to correct a lot of them but he might actually spot something that the Phoenix Lord considers a flaw, him utilizing it will be a different story.”

“How does he even know you are a Druidic Knight? You’ve never used more than normal swordplay in your duels.”

“He started researching me after his loss three years ago, when he found out I was trying to set you up with men he took it really hard. I tell each of the guys I mention to you that they will also have to defeat me to have a chance, but the guy thinks that I would let one of my own recommendations win.”

“Hah!”

Colette shook her head as they made their way deeper into the old grove, they eventually found the garden terrace that Vandrom mentioned was a great spot for lunch. They set out their snacks and drinks that Cyrus carried for the two of them, and Cyrus summoned a small flame to warm up their water for hot tea.

“Yeah but seriously. I think you should give Donny a chance. Or if not Donny then at least reply to the letter that my nephew sent you.”

“He’s Ari’s age! Just a boy, absolutely not.”

“Ari is twenty one maybe two? I think at least. Not a boy anymore even if he looks and acts a lot younger, his size doesn’t help either.”

“Just because he doesn’t want birthday presents means you shouldn’t be remembering his age. He is twenty one and won’t turn twenty two for another two seasons.”

“But still,” Cyrus took a moment to pour the tea before continuing “Ari is an adult man and my nephew is a year older than him. He is smitten with you and has been since he met you.”

“He was eleven when he met me, Cyrus.”

“Well some childhood crushes are stronger than others, you know.”

Colette looked into Cyrus' face seeing the pain on it after making that statement. She reached out a hand to steady his as it shook, so he wouldn’t spill the tea. He shook his head and set down the kettle, allowing Colette to take over while he took the time to return to proper form.

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“You are probably not the best person to tell me to get over him, you know Cy.”

“I regret ever telling you.”

“Yeah but now you don’t have to hold it in, I know you grieve just as hard as me Cyrus.”

The two silently shared their tea and snacks, enjoying the beauty around them. After they put everything away and began the meandering adventure through the grove Colette turned to other matters that had been stirred up by the conversations about her desire for remaining a widow.

“Do you know if Ari is interested in anyone?”

Cyrus looked at her funny.

“You know, like one of the servant girls or possibly some girl from the village.”

“No. Ari has never once mentioned anything about a girl, he doesn’t even know half of the names of the women that work at the manor. I saw one of my guards giving him the look, but he was so oblivious when she approached him that I can’t tell if it was on purpose or not.”

“Some boys are like that, it is not common but I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns out to have no desire for romance or to share a bed with another.”

“Maybe he is like me.”

“Maybe, but you’re quite the catch and he has never once looked at you that way either.”

“True, only a fool like Quin could ever resist my charms.”

The two shared a laugh as they continued, but Cyrus returned to the subject at hand.

“I’ve never seen him speak to any of the servants unless he was asking them a question or to do something for him. I have met quiet people before, but he doesn’t seem to talk unless he has to. Or unless it's you speaking to him, you manage to open him up quite a bit.”

“I’m basically his surrogate mother, and sister. He grew up on the streets of that horrible town. It has some dumb name like Wall Water or-”

“Door’s Bay, I am almost positive it is where Quin’s grandfather was killed.”

“I never did figure out why he wanted his ashes scattered in the bay there.”

“Not sure, obviously it has to do with his grandad but cremation isn’t a common burial right for Krazhnori and burial at sea isn’t the Henos side of his family’s preferred rites either. What did his will say about his remains or last rites?”

“It was so weird that part, I’ll never forget it. ‘Take my ashes south, carry them in a ceramic urn. Father’s father fell there, it is a calm place; so I’ve been told. It is a strange request but I hope you will follow it to the letter. Being alive without me is going to be hard, but please don’t become a monk. You somehow will try and keep single, even Cyrus knows. His help will bother you, you can try and hide but where?’ I never figured out why even when I wrote to his grandfather’s other family. The man drowned! Why would you want to be laid to rest at the site of such a grisly event in your family’s history?”

Cyrus nodded, but he squinted.

“You never said it mentioned me?”

“You wouldn’t speak to me for months after his death so I never had the chance.”

“Ah fair. Wait, do you have his will?”

“Uh, not on me it is back in my home in Lainebari. Why?”

Cyrus just closed his eyes and began to pace around the table, and Colette was beginning to get agitated. She let him continue for a minute before she started asking questions, tha calm suddenly leaving her voice as Cyrus turned and grabbed her mid question.

“Cyrus what is going on? Is there something you aren’t telling-”

“Colette! Write it down. Word for word write it down right now. We are fucking idiots I can’t believe we both fucking missed this.”

She was shocked, and patted her body to find a pen and paper that wasn’t present, but Cyrus handed her the utensils needed. She wrote it down exactly as she remembered it, and stared down at the paper for a while. Cyrus hovered over her, and after they had stared at the paper for a only a minute Colette exclaimed.

“Oh no, oh no. What have I done?”

“Colette, you don’t have time to blame yourself. We might still be able to find him. Who is he talking about in the second message?”

“I am not sure. Do you think he is still alive like the message says? Was I supposed to find him after I found the secret messages and not even do that stupid internment! I wanted to keep his ashes. What have I done?”

“If this is as serious as we think it is probably best you followed the instructions, someone could have learned which is why he had separate hidden instructions for when you found someone. The reason this message was so abrupt was because he had to have learned this message right before he was going into a place he knew he would die.”

Colette started to nod but she was very much on the verge of tears still.

“That must be why the rest of the updated will seemed so much more normal than the instructions for his remains. He must have learned something right before he was going to mail it and didn’t have time to hide it in his stuff before he went on the journey with his family.”

“Colette. I can’t help. I have to get the cargo from the woman up north. You need to find what ‘urn told letter’ means so we can find Quin’s dad. Check Quincy’s letters and if that doesn’t help I can send you some of the letters I have from him as well. That might be why he mentions me.”

“You can’t go now, I need you for this!”

“If I don’t go it could potentially harm Ari’s advancement.”

“Ari will be fine, we need to get back to Lainebari right now Cyrus. Just delay the trip, pay a courier to let her know you will be behind and buy her a gift. I’ll pay myself if I have to but I need you for this. Please.”

Cyrus hesitated for a moment, before sighing and nodding.

“Fine, but you’ll be writing Soring on why I won’t be showing up for the duel as well.”

Colette smiled for just a moment before the gravity of the situation hit her once more.

“Cyrus, get us off this island right now or I’m going to start hitting you.”