Heirs of Hyarch

Hamond didn't know exactly who he should be more frustrated at, himself or Morgivel.

If he had been paying more attention, he would have caught some sign that Edeline was not feeling her best, and left her at Morgivel's house during the First Ascension ceremony. A better healer than him might have spotted it in advance. They'd have seen something in the way she talked, walked, any number of subtle clues that he had missed.

However, Morgivel had not seen it either, and to fan the flames, had snapped at her at the worst moment. It wasn't clear to Hamond what connection the old Elefae shared with Lord Hallowscroft. Regardless of what it was, in his eyes, Morgivel had crossed a line.

At least Morgivel was trying to make amends. He'd brewed up some barley tea, and had given Edeline a cup. It did seem to have helped her relax, as she sat quietly in one of the chairs in Morgivel's house. Morgivel himself was silently sipping his own tea, waiting for Edeline to be ready on her own time.

"I'm sorry," Edeline spoke up finally, voice low.

"No, no, no. I'm to blame for being so rude." Morgivel shook his head, sighing. "It's just...I know there are people who think we're born this way, different somehow. I just assumed you had been taught better." He reached up and flicked the point of his right ear with a finger. "Besides, the current state of affairs with us is a sore point with me lately. That, I doubt you could've known."

"This have to do with your dispute with the other elders?" Hamond suspected he already knew the answer.

"That's part of it," Morgivel said, "It's a bit complicated. Where to start...oh. My lady, you just witnessed the First Ascension for the first time, and Hamond has helped me before with them. Have either of you wondered then, about the Second Ascension?"

"I never really thought about it," Hamond admitted. He had suspected there were other Ascension ceremonies based on the name, but it was likely they did not need a healer for them. Or perhaps they were more private. He had no way of knowing either way, and wasn't about to pry.

"That's because there isn't a Second Ascension. At least, not any more."

"What happened?" Edeline asked, setting her cup of tea down on the table.

"The Spellking happened." Morgivel rubbed his forehead, looking pained. "Or more exactly, the new king's declaration in response. I would think you know that magic, other than that of healers, was outlawed by him."

"I'm aware," she said quietly. Of course she would know, Hamond thought, considering she was breaking that law herself.

"The problem is what the Second Ascension is," Morgivel continued, "You need to understand, our traditions come from a belief that nature, magic, the world, and ourselves are all connected. Being an Elefae means embracing all of those in many ways, and our Ascension rites are part of that. The Second Ascension, as a mark of coming of age, is when an Elefae demonstrates a spell publicly."

"And my father enforced it, making it illegal," Edeline concluded.

"No, no, no, Lord Hallowscroft did nothing of the sort. The Elefae elders themselves stopped the ceremonies, afraid of the risk." Morgivel clasped his thin hands. "Of course, I wasn't counted among them then, since that was four hex years ago. I've asked many times over the years for them to reconsider, but even now they won't listen."

"What makes you think Lord Hallowscroft would permit it?" Hamond asked. Cynical as it sounded, it was a valid point. He doubted any lord would willing defy his king to hide something of this sort.

"I mentioned he owes me a debt, right?" A faint smile appeared on Morgivel's face as he looked over at Edeline. "That's because I saved your mother's life. Yours too, when I think about it."

"Because she was with child...that is, me?" Edeline asked, confusion clear. "Hold on...you knew my father?"

"For a time, yes. I haven't seen him in years, though. I don't blame him, given what happened." Morgivel's smile faded. "I had thought that reminding Lord Hallowscroft of what I did for him would..encourage him to overlook the Elefae ceremonies. Of course, the hope for that is pretty thin now, but..."

"I will see what I do," Edeline said, "Still...they never told me about that."

"You should ask them about it, when you have the chance," Morgivel replied, "I'm sure your mother, at least, would explain what happened."

"My mother is dead," Edeline said softly, expression pained.

Morgivel glanced over at Hamond briefly, his expression dark. "I...I see. I think...you should probably ask Lord Hallowscroft for the details. He actually would know more about it than I do."

Edeline sat there silently for a moment. "Very well," she said resignedly.

Hamond quickly decided a change of subject was needed. "There's more to the Elefae issue than just the Ascension debate, I presume."

"Yes, yes. I did say it was complicated." Morgivel stopped to take another drink of his tea, this time draining the cup completely. "In the past few years, the elders have tried to push some older Elefae traditions, things we actually gave up on many generations ago. Bringing back things like double marriages, old dance festivals, and so on."

Hamond nodded, remembering Kalvarel complaining about the marriage issue.

"Turns out, a lot of the younger folks aren't happy about it," Morgivel said, "I've had to hear plenty of frustration about it, with more than a few bringing up the possibility of just ignoring the elders here completely. And if that happens...well, it won't be pretty."

"And the elders aren't listening about this either," Hamond guessed.

"Right. I've brought it up, but again, they've dismissed it every time." Morgivel sighed. "I don't see a good answer. There may not be one."

"Perhaps," Edeline said in a low voice. "But that is not why we are here."

"No, it isn't, is it? We've definitely lost our way somewhere." Morgivel took a deep breath. "So, regarding the vanished Elefae women..."

"What I do know is that the city watch has been preoccupied with other matters recently. That is likely the reason why they ignored the issue." Hamond took note of how Edeline was avoiding mentioning just what the watch was doing, or why. "I do plan on making sure to address the issue by meeting the watch captains. I already have met with one."

"Good. That's good." Morgivel let out a breath, "As long as you get them to look into it, it's really a help."

"Do you have any information about these disappearances?" Edeline asked. "It'll be easier if I can...pass it along."

Hamond stared at her. Hopefully she wasn't planning on tracking down the person responsible by herself.

"Not a lot, other than that it's been all girls that went missing. I'm sure you were told that though." Morgivel frowned, lost in thought for a moment. "Oh yes," he finally said, "A couple of people who last saw them said they were acting strangely."

"Strangely how?" Hamond and Edeline asked simultaneously. Sparing her a glance, Hamond shook his head.

A brief smile passed over Morgivel's face before he continued. "Let's see...don't really know the details, but something about them not being all there. They kept repeating themselves when they were talked to. I don't know if that means anything, but...well, it's what it is."

That was good enough for Hamond. The exact same signs of the enchantment, the ones that that watch captain had shown, were here now. Whoever was behind the watch's betrayal was involved with this, he would bet good pikers on it.

Edeline caught his eye, and from her expression he could tell she was thinking along the same lines. "I see. Don't worry, I think I can bring this up."

Which, of course, meant with him, Hamond thought. He wasn't opposed to the idea though, since he was fairly sure only he understood the threat they were facing. It just meant that the Lady Hallowscroft would be sleeping under his roof even longer.

"If you can help, it would be appreciated." Morgivel suddenly yawned, shifting in his chair with a grunt. "But it's getting late, and..."

"Dear," a voice came from Hamond's left.

Hamond turned to see Morgivel's wife Beryla standing there. Aether, it had been so long since he had last seen her, he all but forgotten about her. She'd probably been sitting in a chair in the other room the whole time, waiting on Morgivel to come to bed.

Blind as she was, she could hardly do much else. Hamond recalled first meeting her, trying to apologize about her condition. He'd been rebuked, since she'd apparently lived without sight since her childhood. As Morgivel had said, it was just a part of who she was, and he loved her regardless.

"Like I said, it's late." Morgivel nodded sagely. "I'll be there in a moment. I just need to send these two on their way."

"No, it's not that," the Elefae woman said, "I just thought I heard someone outside the front door."

Stunned himself, Hamond looked over at Edeline to see her face pale as well. If the city watch had tracked them here, then...Hamond looked around, trying to figure out a way to ensure Morgivel's safety. If they were to hide in the bedroom, then it might be possible to...

"Another visitor?" Morgivel sighed, standing up. "Well, better handle this."

"Wait," Edeline said in protest, but Morgivel apparently didn't hear her. Ever so slowly, he shambled over to the door, and reached for the handle.