Heirs of Hyarch

Her eyes opened to an unfamiliar room.

It took a moment for Edeline to come to terms with what she was seeing. A crude roof with wooden rafters stretched above where she laid, with light shining in through a single window. She had no clue what this place was, or how she got here.

Sitting up to look around the place, Edeline was shocked as the blanket she'd been under fell off her body. Her exposed body, bare as the day she was born. Face flushing, she pulled the blanket up around her, equally angry and embarrassed.

The room was simple and plain, with a pair of worn wooden beds, one of which she had been sleeping on. Between the two was a small table and a stool, and against the opposite wall a single chair sat, empty below the window. The doorway, which was to her right, had a curtain instead of a door. The faint sound of the streets, people coming, going, and talking, echoed into the room. Of all this, one detail stood out in particular for Edeline, the most important of all.

The other bed was empty.

Lendra was not here, despite having the worst wound of the two of them. What had happened to her maidservant? What had happened to her? Edeline thought back to the previous night, trying to remember. She had carried Lendra out, desperate for assistance, but no one had been out that night. And then...and then...nothing, not a fragment of memory.

Looking around the room again, she realized there was a folded stack of clothing on the table next to her bed. She hoped it was for her, because even if it wasn't, she planned on wearing it anyway. She was lacking in other options for clothing herself regardless.

Standing up and letting the blanket fall away, Edeline then noticed her wound, or rather, the lack of it. A thin angry red mark on her side and a dull ache were all that remained of the slicing injury. She stretched a moment, testing how her body felt, but no sudden pains came.

Not sure what to make of it, she settled for pulling on the clothing. The tunic and trousers were a little loose and rougher than what she was used to, but they did fit and were clean. At least now she would not have to go around naked. Quietly stepping over to the hanging curtain, she peeked into the next room.

It was just as simply furnished, with a table surrounded by three chairs. A stone hearth took up much of one of the walls, flanked by a pair of barrels on one side and a shelf holding a mix of sacks and plates on the other. A few other odds and ends were placed or piled along the other walls. Another doorway with a curtain was across the room, while to her left was a heavy wooden door.

Sitting in one of the chairs, facing away from her, was a man with a head of dark curly hair. He wore rather plain peasant clothing, which, now that she considered it, was similar to what she was now wearing. There was no sign of him being armed, or of any other weapons in the room. At least it seemed she was not being held prisoner here...wherever here happened to be.

She must have made some noise just then, for he suddenly turned to face her, chair creaking beneath him in protest. To her surprise, he had the brown skin that indicated he came from the northern lands of Remuat. Edeline had met a handful of merchants from there, an infrequent but still yearly occurrence as they passed through Hallowscroft, selling their wares.

“Ah, you're awake,” the man said with a slight smile, gesturing to another of the chairs. “Have a seat.”

Equal parts cautious and curious, Edeline did as he asked. “Where am I?” she asked as soon as she was seated.

“My house,” the man said, “I'm Hamond.”

“Edeline,” she replied, deciding she did not to reveal too much to this man just yet. Not until she knew how she had ended up here.

“I suppose you have questions,” Hamond said, looking her over.

Of course she did, Edeline thought to herself. There was one in particular though that needed an answer. “Where is...what happened to the woman who was with me?”

“I'm sorry,” he said, expression darkening, “When I found you, she was already...you know.”

“No...” She wanted to deny it. It couldn't be true, it couldn't be true...right? Tears started to stream down her face, and she leaned down on the table, head resting on her arms.

Memories flashed before her. Lendra chastising her after she stole sweets from the kitchen when she was little. Lendra patiently teaching her how to sew clothes. Lendra reassuring her after her father had all but disappeared. Years upon years of Lendra being there for her, in so many ways that no one else had been.

And now, all of that was gone.

Among all the grief Edeline felt, another emotion was growing though. It was raw surging anger, directed at whoever had sent those men to her home. Part of her silently screamed she had to make those responsible pay, that she would take their heads. Part of her just wanted to hide away, do nothing, just let herself sink into sorrow.

All in all, Edeline had no idea what she should be doing.

“You all there?” Hamond asked.

Edeline looked up, sniffling, comprehension returning. Losing control of herself like that...it was very untoward of her, especially in front of someone she had just met. Irritated at her lapse, she wiped the tears from her eyes.

“My apologies,” she spoke, voice more shaky than she would have liked. “Did you say something?”

“Just making sure you were alright,” Hamond said, “Was she your mother, or...?”

“My...my maid,” she managed to say, fighting back another wave of emotion.

“I see.” Hamond leaned back in his chair, studying her a moment. Finally, he spoke, “Again, my apologies. I'd have healed her wounds had I found you two sooner.”

“You found us?” Edeline took a deep breath. Calm thoughts, calm thoughts, she repeated inwardly.

“You had passed out on the side of the street. You were lucky I was on my way home.”

“Thank you.” Edeline bowed her head. “It seems I owe you my life.”

“Oh, I'd prefer my payment in pikers,” Hamond said mischievously.

Edeline sputtered with unexpected laughter, caught completely off-guard. That joke was very clever, she had to admit.

“How much do you normally charge?” she asked. Edeline doubted this was a charity. Even healers had to pay for food on the table and a roof over their head.

Hamond frowned, clasping his hands together. “A hexty for the first day's work, and two hexty for each day after that. Also, an additional two hexty per night if you have to rest in my house.”

So...at least five hexty then. It seemed a fair wage to Edeline, given how bad a state she had been in the previous night. She obviously did not have the coin on hand, of course, but once she returned home paying it would be a simple matter.

“Very well,” she stated.

Hamond looked her over, then met her gaze. “Why were you attacked?”

“Attacked?” Edeline feigned innocence. While she now believed that Hamond meant her no harm, that did not mean he would necessarily keep the details of this secret. If preventing that meant keeping him in the dark about what happened to her, so be it.

“I know a sword wound when I see it,” Hamond pointed out.

“A pair of thugs set upon us,” Edeline lied, “We were able to get away from them, but, well...”

“I asked why, not who,” Hamond said.

“I don't know,” Edeline answered, slightly exasperated at his sudden insistence.

“Actually, I think you do know. You were wearing silk clothes, you admitted to having a maid, and you didn't hesitate when I told you twice my usual fee for my work.” He paused, clearly intending to let this all sink in. “You're nobility, aren't you?”

Edeline paled, mentally cursing herself. She really should have been on guard. Or honest, a voice whispered in the back of her head, surprising her. Did she dare trust Hamond?

At this point, she had no other choice. “My apologies. I was unsure if I could trust you. I am Lady Edeline Hallowscroft.”

“Really now,” Hamond spoke, keeping his expression neutral. Despite that, Edeline could tell that he was more stricken by that detail than he wanted to show.

“I have a good reason why,” she continued, “In truth, the men responsible for the attack were wearing the uniforms of the city watch. They claimed to be acting on the orders of my father.”

“Wait...what?” Hamond gaped for a moment, then shook his head. “That can't be right.”

“Thinking about it, I agree,” Edeline said, “I believe they were impostors, who intended to lure me somewhere. For what reason, I do not know. When I refused to go along, that was when they drew their weapons. My maid tried to intervene, and...you know.”

“How did you escape them then?”

“I...” Edeline paused, deciding how to phrase this. She dared not reveal her thaumaturgy to the healer, but the rest was probably safe to tell. “I retrieved a sword and slew the two men. I have some training with the blade...although not enough to escape unscathed.”

Hamond sat still for a moment. “Of all the...accursed luck,” he muttered.

“I am sorry for involving you in this,” Edeline said quickly. The truth was clear, now that she had described her situation, that the whole matter was larger and more dire than even she had considered. She could fully understand if he wanted nothing to do with the matter.

“Believe me, I've seen worse,” Hamond admitted, “For now, since you're still recovering from your wound, I suggest you stay here until tomorrow.”

“I'll consider it,” Edeline said. It would be ideal to rest to make certain she was fully healed, but she really needed to contact her brother, one of the captains, or anyone, really. She just hoped that Myron had not similarly been targeted.

“Alright. Now, I need to go meet with someone. Will you be fine on your own?” Hamond's question interrupted Edeline's thoughts.

“There is one thing before you go,” Edeline said, suddenly acutely aware of a very important detail about her current condition.

“What is it?”

“Where is...your chamberpot?” She wasn't used to speaking about these matters, but Edeline desperately needed to relieve herself.

“Oh....right. I...put it in my room.” Hamond himself looked flustered about it. “Go in there, and you should find it under the bed. It should...shouldn't be too dirty.”

Edeline could not recall ever having needed to share a chamberpot with anyone, but now was not the time to be choosy. “Thank you,” she said quickly, rushing into the other room and slamming the door behind her.

Once situated on the stool, Edeline sighed, her body already relaxing. She probably also needed to eat, but she could tolerate waiting on that until Hamond finished his errand. A small part of her was suspicious, but it was believable that he had other people to tend to besides her.

Having finished her private business, she returned to the main room. Hamond was putting on a pair of boots. “You done then?” he asked.

Edeline nodded, feeling much better than before.

“Then I'll be going.” Hamond rose to his feet and stepped around the table towards the front door. Edeline silently watched him leave, then turned and took a seat again at the table. Nothing else to do for it but wait.