At least the food here was decent. For breakfast, there were corn tortillas and a tasty salad of tomato and avocado. Akna didn’t recognise what the salad was spiced with, but otherwise, the food was similar to what she was used to in Ninifin. Last night, they had had boar cooked in sour orange juice and vinegar, topped with onions, with squash on the side. In Ninifin, only priests and nobles would be eating something like that, so it seemed there were commonalities between the two cultures.

“In my misspent youth, I tried hunting once,” Lord Amar said. He was seated at the head of the table like last night, his wife in her wheelchair to his left. Akna had asked a question a few minutes ago about hunting in Orwin, and he and Harrick were still discussing the topic.

“I can’t imagine you hunting,” Harrick said. He was seated to his grandfather’s right, two seats down. Last night, his father had sat in the currently empty seat between him and Lord Amar. Akna wondered if they always sat in the same seats.

“That’s because I’ve carefully cultivated a demeanour and reputation that no one would ever suspect me of it. That way, no one will ever find out how bad I was at it.” Lord Amar laughed.

Harrick laughed with him. “Now, I wish I’d seen it.”

Akna was grateful Lord Amar, his wife, and Harrick were the only Padaras present right now. There had been too many of them last night, and nearly all of them had looked at Akna with disgust—if they had looked at her at all. Ever since leaving Ninifin for the first time to go to Scovese, Akna had discovered many of the things she’d been taught about Arnor and Arnorins were exaggerated or just plain wrong. Not all of it though. Foliths were as bad as she’d always thought. People like Felitïa, Harrick, and Lord Amar were exceptions, not the rule.

“How are you at hunting, Nin-Akna?” Harrick asked. “Better than my grandfather, I hope?”

“I’m...accomplished.” She wasn’t sure how much she should prop herself above Lord Amar, even if he had admitted to being bad at it.

“She’s great,” Corvinian piped up. He was picking all the avocado out of his salad and eating that, leaving the tomato. “She’s caught lots of food while we’ve been travelling.”

“It’s been strange hunting alone. In Ninifin, we usually hunt in groups. But I’ve been adjusting.”

“Couldn’t get Felitïa to help you?” Harrick said with a grin. “Do you plead incompetence like my grandfather, your Highness? Felitïa?”

Felitïa was slumped in her seat, her head hanging to the side. She perked up at Harrick’s call. “Sorry, what was that?”

Harrick smirked and took a bite of tortilla. “Forgive me, your Highness, but you seem—shall we say, distracted?—this morning.”

Felitïa lowered her head and picked at her food. “Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“I caught her reading in my study at three or four in the morning,” Lord Amar said.

Akna leaned over to Felitïa and whispered, “The Staff again?”

Felitïa nodded.

“Keeping secrets from us now, you two?” Harrick said.

“No, just making sure she’s okay,” Akna said.

Harrick chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m just teasing.”

“Perhaps before you continue your studies today, your Highness,” Lord Amar said, “you should try to get a bit more sleep.”

Felitïa stopped picking at her food, straightened up, and looked at Lord Amar. “Actually, your Lordship, I hope it doesn’t offend you, but I’ve decided to continue my journey right away. I know I said I would stay a day or two longer, but I’ve realised I can’t delay any longer than I already have.”

Akna glared at Felitïa. She appreciated the change in plan, but wished Felitïa had said something to her first.

“A shame,” Lord Amar said. “I was looking forward to more talks with you. I rarely get to converse with people so intelligent. But no matter. If you must go, I understand. I take no offence.”

“If you wish,” Harrick said, “I’d be happy to help you find passage on a ship upriver.”

“That’s kind of you, Harrick, but I’d prefer to travel a little more anonymously.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Harrick nodded. “Of course. It’s too bad you didn’t get here when Gabriella was here. You could have travelled with her.” He frowned. “Although she wasn’t travelling anonymously, so maybe not.”

“Where was she headed?” Felitïa asked.

“To Arnor City by way of Quorge. I think the two of you would get along well. She’s a little more...extroverted than you, I suppose, but you’re both very intelligent, and I get the impression you share similar views on many topics, particularly politics. She’s probably left Quorge by now, and will be on the road west towards Porthaven.”

“I’m sorry I missed her. Cerus speaks very highly of her.”

“With good reason, I’d say,” Lord Amar said. “Cerus is a bright lad.”

“Cerus?” Lady Delayus lifted her head and looked around. “Cerus?”

Lord Amar reached over to her and placed his hand on hers. “No, my dear, he’s not here.”

“Oh.” Lady Delayus’s head lowered again, and her eyes closed.

“I do have a question, your Highness,” Harrick said.

Felitïa stifled a yawn. “Go ahead.”

“Why did you come to Dorg in the first place? If you came from Ninifin and are headed to Quorge, surely it would have been quicker to cross through Plavin-Tyl?”

Felitïa nodded. “It would have, yes, but I’m afraid my reasons for taking this longer route are complicated and would take awhile to explain.”

It had been Zandrue’s suggestion to come this way. They had discussed their options the night before Akna, Felitïa, and Corvinian had split from the rest. Travelling through Plavin-Tyl had been too dangerous an option.

“Couldn’t we sneak through and avoid these Red Knights?” Akna had asked.

Zandrue shook her head. “Last time, they just knew we were there. Our enemies seem to have some way to find us. At the time, we didn’t even know we had enemies.”

It would have been an easy thing to explain to Harrick, but Akna suspected Felitïa didn’t want them to know of her difficulties with the Red Knights. Perhaps it had something to do with her sudden decision to leave.

“If you’ll excuse me, your Lordship,” Felitïa said. The old man nodded, and Felitïa stood up.

“I’m not finished,” Corvinian said. He had more salad and was again eating only the avocado.

“Don’t worry,” Felitïa told him. “You can stay and finish up. We won’t be leaving right away. Stay with Nin-Akna until I get back.” She headed out of the dining room.

Akna stood up. “Apologies. I need to speak to Felitïa before she goes.”

Lord Amar nodded. Corvinian looked up at her, a piece of avocado partway to his mouth.

“I’ll be right back,” she told him. Then she hurried after Felitïa.

Felitïa stood in the hallway, waiting for her.

“What’s happening?” Akna asked. “Why the change in plans?”

Felitïa glanced each direction down the hall. “I had a very strange encounter with Lord Padara last night. It might be nothing, but I don’t want to take my chances. I’ll tell you all about it once we’re on our way. In the meantime, it’s possible he guessed that our encounter is the reason for my departure, so be mindful and watch over Corvinian.”

Akna nodded. “Of course.”

“I shouldn’t be long. Can you and Corvinian get everything packed and the horses prepared? Even if the ship isn’t departing right away, I’d like to move everything to it as soon as possible.”

Akna nodded again.

“Sorry to leave you alone with the people here.”

“I’ll survive.”

“Thank you for everything you do. I really appreciate it, you know. I could never have made this journey without you.” Felitïa hugged her. “I’ll be as fast as I can.” Then she let go and hurried off.

Akna returned to the dining room and sat back down. “Sorry for that.”

“Nothing to be sorry about, my dear,” Lord Amar said. “Her Highness’s decision to leave has taken us all by surprise. Only right you should find out what’s happening.”

Harrick leaned towards her. “I hate to pry, but did she by any chance say—”

He was interrupted by the door opening and his sister Wendy entering the room. “Good morning, Grandfather, Grandmother, Harrick.” She took a place at the table her grandmother’s left, across from Harrick—the same spot she’d been in last night. She scanned the table, her gaze falling briefly on Akna. Although Felitïa had ended up borrowing a dress from Wendy, the two weren’t very physically alike. They shared the same height and hair colour, but just about everything else was different. Felitïa couldn’t have been very comfortable in that dress.

Akna flashed Wendy a smile, which was returned with a scowl.

Breakfast became a lot less enjoyable after that. Akna rushed through her remaining food and urged Corvinian to finish his. “We have to pack.”

The boy sighed. “Just a minute.” He took a spoon and began crushing his uneaten tomato pieces. When he’d finished, he picked up his plate, brought it to his mouth, and slurped up the mixture of juice and crushed flesh. He wiped his face with his sleeve. “Xtab showed me that. It tastes better that way.”

Wendy curled her upper lip and scrunched her nose with a soft hiss.

Akna smiled at Corvinian, then looked at Wendy. “I’ll have to try that sometime.” She stood up and bowed to Lord Amar. “If you’ll excuse us?” When the elderly lord nodded, she took Corvinian’s hand and led him from the room.