Forty Three: Decisions

The rain fell heavy enough that I could hear it, even from my room in the interior of the fort. I sat on my bed, peeling off the damp clothes I was wearing while Schula unfolded something new to wear that she had gotten from Teyber.

"We're going to have to decide what to say soon," Schula said. "When Kalor is done with this Halduin, we need to sit down and give him all the facts. He's our best insight into this collection of elves and what they will say about our presence here after they know about... well, everything."

I sighed and dropped my damp shirt on the floor. "I know. It feels like we've talked about so much but... not about some of the important things. You know, I don't think our triquetram has come up yet. And he doesn't know about any of my time in the Wyldes."

I dropped the last of my clothing and took the soft green fabric from Schula's arms. Holding it up, I looked for how to slip the dress over my head.

"What happens if we succeed in warning them of the danger? That DuVarick knows an elf survived, and had a child with Lark?" Schula asked quietly.

I bit my lower lip. I had come here for answers and to warn the elves, and that hadn't changed. But in the few hours I've gotten to know my father... was I ready to leave him again and continue our path to the Wyldes?

"I still haven't found the answers for the barrier yet. I haven't looked through much of the books while we were traveling."

Schula nodded. "I guess we could stay and try to find that answer, as long as we're welcome of course. It might not hurt to have someone old enough to remember the barrier's construction either. Maybe one of the elves is old enough?"

"If not one of the elves, I guess someone in the Wyldes might know. I'll admit, I'm really hoping the news of you and the elves hasn't sent Baeleon into too much of a rage. If it has, perhaps he has calmed down by now. Enough to work with us to fix the problem, anyway."

I pulled the dress down in place and smoothed the skirts out. It was very soft, I had no idea what it was made from. And the color would have me blending in with the rest of the people from Eidelhein.

"It's all such a mess, isn't it?" I sighed. "My biggest fear is that we get back there and I can't fix the barrier and King Baeleon won't let me back in Thananthol."

"Hey," Schula said. "I'll be with you, no matter what. And yes, Baeleon was not happy with the elves when they opposed the fae courts, but it's been centuries. Maybe he'll understand now. Besides, you didn't know the elves until now. None of this was your fault."

"What was the war even about?" I asked. "Cosimo told me about everything on the mural in the Library of Autumn but..."

"Ugh, Cosimo. Did he try to touch you anywhere inappropriate?" Schula groaned.

"No," I answered. "Does he do that?"

"He's a Satyr. They have a weakness. I wonder why he didn't... oh." Schula grinned. "You were there with Thain, that's right. Nevermind."

I blushed, fiddling with the pendant under my dress absently. "What does that mean?" I asked.

"He really likes you, you know," Schula said, ignoring my question. "He hasn't shown much interest in courting since I've known him, but he took an immediate interest in you. At first we all thought he was just trying to look after a youngling, but you don't need looking after anymore, and I think he was confused for a while."

I didn't have an answer for that. I took the comb off my dressing table, but Schula grabbed it out of my hand and sat behind me on the bed to tame my hair for me.

"It was while you were suffering with the seal and your magic trying to burn. We were in Eb's house, and it was just me and Thain in the room with you at the moment. That's when he told me, he felt a familiarity in you, in your natures, but you kept surprising him. You are quiet but still somehow fierce. Those were his words. And he told me that for the first time in a long time, he found something he wanted for himself. Not for the good of others, but for himself, and he didn't want to let it go without honestly trying to make it work."

"I'm so much younger than he is," I argued weakly.

Schula shook her head. "You know the fae don't care about that, as long as you're both consenting and mature adults. And, Wren, don't disregard your experiences either. And you're so practical about things, just like he is."

My throat tightened, and I pulled the stone pendant out from under my clothing. I missed Thain. I missed everyone. I wanted to get back to them. I held the midnight stone in my palm, admiring for the millionth time the silver specs in the rock that made it look like a piece of the night sky in my hand. I hiccuped, and a tear pushed its way into my eye.

"We're tiptoeing around the elves, but we should be trying harder than that," I said.

"We were only going to take the day to assess our situation. We were always going to confront them tonight," Schula murmured. "Just, maybe not with a formal council meeting."

"This is ridiculous," I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "I'm not here to play games, I'm here to save my new home."

I stood from the bed, smoothing out my dress and pulling on the cloak that Kalor had given me.

"Where are you going?" Schula asked, but I noticed the grin she wore as she followed me.

"I am Wren, daughter of Bryn, child of Lark. Student of Mila and apprentice to Purda. And I'm not about to be intimidated by a bunch of elves. We should tell them directly what is happening, and what we're here for. And if they don't believe us, that's on them."

"Excellent!" Schula clapped her hands together. "Let's get Nassir."

"Nassir is already here."

I opened the door from my room to the hallway, and Nassir was leaning against the opposite wall.

"Nassir!" I said. "You heard all that?"

"Just that last bit about getting to the point," he answered. "I'm in favor of it."

"I thought you wanted to take a day to see what the elves were like first," Schula said.

"I did." Nassir shrugged. "From what I could learn, they seem to be content settling here peacefully. The city around us, Eidelhein, is a miracle. An oasis for beings that shouldn't exist, yet do anyway. If I feel this way about it, surely the elves feel the same or stronger. We should give them the opportunity to prepare however they want. Hopefully they will still allow us to stay here and figure out our next steps as well."

"That sounds pretty settled then." Schula slipped an arm around mine and Nassir's until she was in between us, leading us forward. "Wren, this might put your father in a bit of a pinch."

"I know," I answered softly. It would break my heart if Kalor

"If... if he still wants a relationship with his daughter, he will find a way. I'm glad for the time I got with him, even if it's all I get. We have to keep going. We have to fix the barrier, and we have to see what Thain and Eb have gotten accomplished about DuVarick and his madness."

"Right." Schula nudged my hip with hers. "Let's do this."

"We should glamour," Nassir said.

"They've already seen us," Schula protested.

"Humor an old fae." Nassir winked. "They haven't all seen us yet."

"Fine," Schula sighed. "Alright, let's go."

The three of us walked arm in arm through Kalor's halls. My heart beat frantically as we left the privacy of his space and into the main flow of the keep. Two scouts were stationed like guards outside Kalor's halls. They seemed as surprised to see us as we were to see them. I quickly tugged my hood down enough to fully hide my ears and hair as eyes began to drift our way.

"We would like to speak with Kalor, please," Schula looked to the nearest scout, a young male who looked more nervous than his partner.

"Lord Kalor is in a private meeting," the other scout said, stepping in. "I can pass the word to him as soon as he's done."

"Then we would like to speak to Teyber, please," Nassir said.

"The Captain is a busy man," the younger scout said. "We can't just pull him from his duties to talk to your kind. You'll have to wait in the rooms assigned to you until someone can speak to you."

"I'm sorry," Schula said. "I was under the impression that we were guests, not captives."

The scouts exchanged looks, and the older one faced Schula.

"Look, we don't really know what to do with you right now. We've been taught you are all our enemy, and suddenly the captain loses his mind and brings two into Eidelhein in broad daylight. The city is already restless and this fort is the only thing between them and the fae. If you really are guests, and care at all for the Captain and his reputation, you will turn back now and wait."

Schula looked between me and Nassir with a sour pout on her face. She leaned down and whispered by my ear. "Fine, if we can't leave, at least you can."

I nodded. "Sorry, Schula. It looks like I couldn't bring you with me after all."

"We'll see you later then. Do visit again," Nassir added.

The scouts narrowed their eyes at me. I didn't recognize either of them from the group that had found us in the forest, so this might just work. They had no idea I had come with them.

"I'll come by again later," I promised Nassir and Schula. Then I walked past the scouts, anticipating their questions.

"Wait, who are you?" asked the younger one.

"Me?" I pulled the edge of my hood aside enough that you could see my ear, but not much of my hair. "I'm an elven child, visiting... family."

The guard waved me off. "Don't spend much time here until the Lord Elves can figure out what to do."

"I understand." I smiled as I pulled my hood back down again, walking off to find either Kalor or Teyber.

Of course, I had no idea where I was going. The keep was filled with people who would otherwise be outside except for the heavy rain. I let my feet carry me to the area near the front entrance where I could look around better.

I hadn't paid much attention when we first arrived, I was so distracted by Teyber and the whole of Eidelhein that I didn't look at details. Now I watched them closer. The wooden floors were polished but worn down in paths that were used the most. It looked like turning left once you came into the keep was more common than the right. Straight ahead were the halls of personal rooms, Kalor's halls included. So, turning right was probably a good chance to run into someone I wanted to see, if I was looking for someone in a private meeting.

I swept right, acting for all the world like I belonged in that hallway and few bothered to look my way. Luck was on my side with the rain, because I wasn't the only one in a cloak and it didn't stand out at all that I was wearing one, even with the hood up.

The halls grew narrow and the doors farther apart, telling me the rooms were getting larger. I slowed when I realized I was finally the only one in a long hallway with a dead end and only a few doors.

"Alrigt, let's see if we can find Kalor or Teyber," I mumbled. I went to the farthest door and pressed an ear to it. There was no sound inside. I risked turning the door handle, but it was locked.

"Well, not this one then. I hope." I moved on to the next door. It was just as silent, and just as locked.

The next door was silent, but the door wasn't locked. I smiled as I twisted the handle and the door swung open with little sound. It revealed itself to be an archive of some kind, with an office on one side and a shelves of books with labels of dates on each cover. There were other kinds of logs as well, and the desk on the side that looked like an office was speckled with dried ink.

Whatever this room was for, it was not where Kalor was and I suspected not somewhere Teyber would need to be. I sighed and turned, leaving the way I had come.

I closed the door behind me and looked up the hallway toward the next door, only what I saw was a red-faced Tobias storming my way.

"Stop! What were you doing in there?" He looked mush like he did the first time I had seen him. Flustered, ink-stained, and with the slightly disheveled air of an overworked scholar.

"I-"

"Are you one of the new runners from town? I've been requesting extra hands for long enough now. It's about time." He grunted.

Tobias didn't recognize me. I realized that he hadn't gotten a look at me when he burst in to complain to Kalor and saw Nassir and Schula. All he saw of me, was a scout cloak.

"I'm actually looking for Kalor or Tobias, but I've gotten terribly lost," I said. It was just enough truth that I hoped it would work.

Tobias snorted. "I can understand looking for the Captain, but Kalor isn't going to see you. Do you have a report to deliver? I can take it here."

He stuck his hand out, palm up, waiting for a report I didn't have.

"No, I don't have a report. I need to talk to him in person, and it's a matter of importance. Before the elves gather tonight," I said.

Tobias narrowed his eyes at me. "And who are you to know that they've decided to meet tonight? That's fairly secret information."

I ground my molars together, frustrated at this insufferable clerk. "If you don't know where either of them are, then I will be on my way. Hopefully to find someone who can help me."

I began walking down the hall when I heard the footsteps follow.

"Wait," he said.

I sighed and turned around. "Yes?"

"Do you know about the... the guests that Lord Kalor is keeping?" Tobias whispered.

"I might. What of it?" I asked, slowly.

"If what you're needing the Captain for involves them, then I'll take you to him. In exchange, I want to know what's going on," he said.

"I can't give you what I don't know." I shook my head. "I know what they are, and I know they were found in the forest, but I don't know what the Lords are going to do with them."

It was the truth. Truth enough, anyway.

Tobias frowned, tapping his foot on the floor. "Very well. Let's try this another way, if I take you to Teyber, I'm staying to hear what it is you're talking about. I won't be kept in the dark on this matter."

I thought it over. I could easily word what I had to say in a way that would mean nothing to Tobias. And if Teyber decided to kick him out of the room, even better.

"Fine," I said. "We have a deal. Please take me to Captain Teyber."

Tobias grinned and nodded.

"This way, lady. He's one floor up."

Tobias lead on, and I followed. At least we were finally getting somewhere. I hoped.