Heirs of Hyarch

There had been far too many people come to Morgivel for help with some injury they'd gotten from an accident, but then refused to tell what the accident was. As Nela had come to realize, stupid pride wasn't worth shit, but these people seemingly never learned. Over time, she'd gotten better at seeing clues to what they were hiding, little details that gave away what actually happened.

As it turned out, it also made her fairly good at spotting things that the person themself wasn't aware of. And right now, Nela was sure that Edeline, still unaware of it, had feelings for Hamond.

What she could do now that she saw this, she had no idea. If anything, it made it even more likely that Edeline planned to leave once this was all over. Really not going to plan, but there was nothing they could do about it.

"I think this will work," Ronny said, holding up a handful of cloth strips. It had taken a search of a few of the servants' rooms to find something. The first couple had been emptied, with no clothes and not much else left. Running away after the attack here was the likely reason, Nela thought.

"They're probably wondering why we took so long," she replied, not bothering to hide her own annoyance with it.

"I'm sure they will understand." Ronny grunted as he pulled the door open.

"I told you not to use that arm," Nela grumbled. Why he didn't just pass the strips into his other hand before opening the door, she had no idea.

"It'll be fine." The look on Ronny's face told her otherwise.

"Sure, and you'll end up a one-armed man if you keep it up."

"Alright. I'll try to not use this arm for the next day or two. I can't guarantee anything, though." Not the most reassuring thing to hear, but she knew just as well they weren't out of danger yet.

"Fine then." She'd just have to remind him about it again later. As annoying as it was, Nela was happy that Ronny was getting back to his usual self, pushing himself to be helpful even when he didn't need to. It was just that, well, he could have waited a day or two first.

Out into the hall they went, Nela taking the lead as they headed to the room where Hamond and Edeline were waiting with the knocked out guard. More than ever, she was grateful to the old man for teaching her that spell, although he probably wouldn't fully approve of how she'd been using it. Well, in her own way she was saving lives with it, and that ought to count as far as being a healer went.

Edeline looked up from a chair as they entered the room, but didn't say anything. They'd managed to get the man braced up against the bed in the room. Hamond had remained standing, not that there was really any other place to sit. As it was, the small room was very crowded with all four of them in there.

"So no rope again, I take it," Hamond commented.

"Unfortunately, no. I had to tear up a old shirt belonging to a servant. We'll have to pay for him to get a new one later." Not having been paying attention to the shirt, Nela was a little surprised to learn the owner was a man. It hadn't been a very large shirt.

"So, who's tying him up?" Edeline asked, not making a move to take the strips from Ronny. Hamond didn't move either.

Nela rolled her eyes. "Give me those," she said, snatching the strips out of Ronny's hand. She'd picked up some advice on knots from a couple of the other men in the army, useful for setting up tents. Of course, Ronny had people to do that for him, and the other two were probably hopeless at handling ropes.

A few quick loops and twists later, and the man's hands were bound behind his back. Of course, if he really worked at it, he probably could get free. But that would take time, and they'd notice it well before he got loose. "He's ready."

"Right," Hamond said, extending one hand. "Katharsis logos."

There was no real reaction. The man slept on, head bowed down.

"Think the old's man spell is better than yours?" Nela asked mockingly.

"I don't-" Hamond broke off as the man groaned, shaking off the sleep. He looked up at the four of them, blinking slowly, then suddenly his eyes widened as he saw Nela.

"You! Oh...not again!" The man struggled for a second, then stopped as he realized his arms were bound.

"Me?" Nela had no idea where or when this man had seen her, let alone what she had supposedly done to him.

"Wait a moment," Edeline said, leaning down to look at the man. "I believe this is one of the men who came to Hamond's house."

Nela looked more closely. She really couldn't remember the faces of those two, but she supposed this man could have been one of them. "Unlucky for them then."

"Stupid elf witch," the watchman grumbled back, "I don't know what you've done with the Lady Hallowscroft, but I'm not helping your plans, whatever they are."

The look on Edeline's face was beyond description. "You...you don't know who I am?"

"No, and why would I care?" He wasn't lacking courage, that much Nela had to admit. Still, though, she'd have thought all the town watch knew exactly who was paying them.

"I do think you should." Edeline drew herself up straight. "You see, I am Edeline Hallowscroft."

"Anyone can say anything," the man shot back, "I can say I'm a prince of Hyarch. Doesn't make it true, but I can say it."

Edeline opened her mouth, then shut it. Nela had to struggle to hold back a laugh. This man had got Edeline but good. It did make her wonder though: were there nobles who actually carried around papers proving their status?

"Believe her or not," Ronny spoke up, apparently not caring to say who he was. "You do need to answer our questions. Otherwise, well...we can have her just put you back to sleep." He gestured at Nela, who grinned.

"I told you, I'm not talking." Nela's grin vanished. The man was clearly not going to bend so easily. From the looks on the others' faces, they were also reaching the same conclusion.

"Something's wrong," Hamond spoke up.

"What's the problem?" Ronny asked, turning around.

"I definitely removed the spell on him. But he should have been aware of it, and reacted appropriately when he woke."

"I'm right here. And I have a name, you know."

"Well, you did say you weren't going to tell us anything," Nela retorted, "So until you start talking, you get to remain nameless."

"Name or not, I don't know how he could possibly not realize his mind was being affected, not now. The difference should be obvious."

"The only spell I've been put under is the one that elf witch cast," the man insisted.

"Of course!" Edeline exclaimed, "Kalvarel had to put the spell on him when he wasn't aware of it...and he wouldn't have been while under the sleep spell."

"So your name's Kalvarel?" the man said, staring at Nela. "Again, no one else put me under a spell. I think." He sounded more doubtful.

Nela didn't know whether to be insulted or amused. "If I'm Kalvarel, then you really are a prince. And you're no prince."

"Someone hasn't spent much time with Elefae before," Hamond noted.

"Well, he's spent time enough with the one that matters," Ronny said, "You sure you're not willing to tell us about the Elefae that was with you earlier?"

"Ask her then," the man answered, nodding in Edeline's direction, "If you're really who you say you are, you'd know one of your father's own advisors, right?" He let out a nervous bark of a laugh.

Edeline groaned, frustration visible on her face. Nela, however, couldn't help but smile. That last remark had told quite a bit, and it seemed like they were starting to get through.

"I do know something," Ronny said quietly, leaning closer, "When you saw him, you felt as if he was your best friend. You owed it to him to listen to what he said. You'd do anything for him, right?" Nela felt a chill, realizing this wasn't just him trying to persuade the watchman.

The man stared. "What the...who in Aether's name are you?"

"I'm like you." Ronny crouched down in front of the man, "That elf caught me off-guard, put me under that spell. He put you under that spell too. And he'll keep doing it, turning us against each other, until all of Hallowscroft kneels to him."

"You're joking. You've got to be joking." The man looked back and forth between them, like he was expecting one of them to take his side.

"We're working to stop him. Now you could help us by telling us what you know...or eventually you could end up back under his spell again. It's your choice."

The man looked down. "Did that...did that cursed elf really do that?"

"He did." Ronny's words, while still soft, took on an edge. "And I think you knew, didn't you?"

Gritting his teeth, the man thumped one of his feet on the floor in clear frustration. "What have I even been doing?"

"There's a better question," Nela added, "Try asking what you're going to do next." She had to admit that playing nice with the man was far from the first approach she would've taken, but Ronny was getting results. Then again, Ronny had told her he tried to see the best in people.

The man let out a long, ragged sigh. "Fine. Name's Filip."

"And I'm Myron." Ronny rose to his feet again. "Now, what do you know about that elf, Kalvarel?"

Filip licked his lips. "Not a lot. Like I said, told me he was one of Lord Hallowscroft's trusted advisors, and he was heading up a search for the ones who had taken Lady Hallowscroft away." He looked over at Edeline. "You actually are her, aren't you?"

"That is what I said." Edeline sounded very annoyed. "Should I reintroduce myself?"

"Uh, no, it's just...sorry." Ronny shot Edeline an odd look, one Nela understood as telling her to shut up.

"There was one more thing though," Filip said quickly, "He was really upset about the weird show of light that happened yesterday."

"What light?" Ronny asked, shooting a glance at Hamond.

"Late yesterday afternoon, in the middle of town, this big stream of light shot up from the ground into the sky. We were just down the street from it, and that elf swore something fierce at seeing it. Now that I think about it, I...I didn't even react to it."

"The statue," Edeline said quietly, "Of course. I should have realized." If keeping all this quiet had been important, Nela thought, then any chance of that was gone. Half of Hallowscroft likely knew something strange was happening.

Including her family.

Shit.

"I see." Ronny stepped back, narrowly missing stomping on Hamond's foot. Nela snorted in response. "Thank you for the information."

"Can you untie me then?" Filip flexed his arms slightly, unable to do more with them bound. "This don't feel good, you know."

Ronny looked back at each of them. "I suppose we can let you go now, as long as you promise to stay away from Kalvarel."

"Not a problem. Probably wasn't cut out to be a guard, anyway."

"Actually," Hamond spoke up, "I do think there's one more thing you can do for us."

"Sure, I suppose," the man said, "What is it?"

"Let's get you untied first, and then I'll tell you. It's a simple errand, nothing more." Hamond moved aside, and Nela bent down to undo the knots.