Heirs of Hyarch

Chapter 131: Sugar Versus Spice

"What did I do this time?" Sedat asked, almost pleading.

Myronel could only shake his head at the latest argument between the two girls. It had seemed a good idea in the moment. Sedat needed a home as well as someone to handle her potential with spellcraft, and Hamond had been willing to do both. With them already having taken in Jylania as Nela's apprentice, one more shouldn't have been too much trouble beyond the increased strain on their supplies.

What none of them had expected was Jylania deeply disliking Sedat.

It wasn't a mutual feeling at all. Sedat approached the other girl, a couple of years younger than her, with her usual cheerful manner, chattering about whatever thoughts came to mind. While that could be part of the problem, it couldn't possibly explain why Jylania seemed to almost enjoy throwing insults against Sedat. Some were veiled, while others...less so.

"It's not your fault," Hamond said, exchanging glances with Nela. Both of them had tried in their own ways to settle the matter, with limited success. Myronel didn't want to intervene, but he might not have any choice. They could hardly afford the distraction, not with what their destination - and all of its dangers - just a day or two's journey away.

"Jylania." Nela's voice was a bit more harsh. "Come over here." Jylania frowned, face getting a bit pale, but obediently followed Nela away from their campsite. No doubt their talk would be a stern reminder about how healers needed to aid those less fortunate. It was admittedly hard to get less fortunate than Sedat.

Hamond meanwhile quietly gestured, and led Sedat in the opposite direction. At least for a moment the clearing, likely set up by traveling traders, was calm again. Just as well, because Myronel would rather be alone right now.

Except that he was still not alone. "You would think they might ask us for some advice on how to handle those two," Edeline remarked from where she sat, close to the fire.

"And what do you propose they should do?" Myronel turned and asked his sister.

"Both Sedat and Jylania need some time away from their lessons," she said, with full confidence. "Sedat's been pushing herself as hard as possible to try to learn how to fly, and Nela...you know she spends every spare second she can on healing, and is teaching Jylania to be the same."

Neither of those were things Myronel could deny, even if Edeline's view on Nela left him a bit irritated. He couldn't be neutral about the one he loved, no, but Edeline could maybe have put it... more politely. Then again, Edeline herself would rather speak plainly, in defiance of their upbringing as nobility.

Not that Myronel wanted to embrace that heritage either. He'd planned to walk away for Nela's sake, and then learning the secret their father had kept from them had only given him further reason. But dwelling on that only made him, or Edeline too, all the more miserable. That was half of why they journeyed, to find purpose to dedicate themselves to.

"I don't quite see how that will help," Myronel stated.

"They're still children, and they need a bit of time to play and grow." Edeline looked up. "I have my poetry, you have your flute, Hamond has his playing cards...of course, he has not found anyone to play with recently, but even so."

"You believe they need a diversion to pass the time."

"Exactly," Edeline said, "It will make the two of them happier, and blunt any edge they might approach each other with."

"Jylania, perhaps." Myronel supposed it was out of fairness that Edeline wanted to do it for both of them, but Sedat faced a different problem. "I fear that having wings for arms makes reading books or playing a card game much more difficult, though."

Edeline stopped, dismay apparent. "Surely there is...there has to be something," she sputtered, face reddening.

He couldn't hold it against his sister. Neither of them had really given any thought to what it would be like to live with no hands. So many simple tasks were beyond Sedat: tying ropes, lifting and carrying bags, and more still. To never be able to pick up a spoon to eat with...it was beyond most people, let alone someone with the upbringing of a sheltered noblewoman. Not that he was in that much better a position, Myronel had to admit.

"It would take special effort to accommodate her, and I'm afraid we won't have the time." It was a simple fact that their business carried a greater weight than Sedat's burden, as unfortunate it may seem. "Lasfont can't wait for us to hunt the market stalls and shops for an answer to her problems."

"Did you really have to remind me?" Edeline frowned, the energy in her eyes fading. "Besides, we were going to lay low for a day or two to get an understanding of the situation here before we considered contacting the lord. We might as well spend that time on something a little...cheerier."

So it was Edeline who was truly the one seeking a diversion here. Myronel held back a small smile, knowing it would only further upset her. Indeed, she had been the one most reluctant to go along with the plan to travel to Melyn to request aid for the survivors of Lasfont, and not without reason. Her name, and her presence, needed to be kept hidden if at all possible.

A difficult task indeed, when the likeliest of possibilities was that the very same name would be needed to earn a meeting with Lord Melyn. The arrival of the Lady Edeline Hallowscroft, youngest child of Lord Hallowscroft, would draw attention. It would be even more so from those who knew the true identity of her mother, and the heritage that came with it.

But dwelling on that did nothing to resolve either Edeline or Sedat's struggles. "We'll see what we can do, but our priority is still avoiding notice. On that count, have you thought of how we are going to get Sedat through the city gates?"

"I was hoping you had figured an answer for that," Edeline said with a shake of her head. "Nela was no help at all. Suggested we weave a few blankets together and throw them over Sedat. That would just get everyone staring, every bit as much as us walking straight in!"

"It would also require us to buy new blankets afterwards," Myronel noted with amusement.

"I doubt that was her main concern." There was a hint of a chuckle in Edeline's voice, but it quickly faded. "I also find myself doubting there is a convenient tunnel we could use here to get under the city walls."

"It would not surprise me if there was. We seem to keep finding that every town or city has some underground passages hidden away, whether we end up using them or not."

"Perhaps we Hyarchians are too predictable in how we keep our secrets." Edeline looked away. "With our luck, we will encounter someone the moment we arrive who sees through any lie or misdirection we come up with."

"At least we know not to claim to be scholars again," Myronel observed.

"Definitely not," Edeline said, "I am not certain yet what other story we can say. I would not dare claim us to be traveling merchants. We would be caught and exposed even quicker that way."

"We could just say we're messengers from Lasfont." It was the truth, and that made it that much harder for the guard here to challenge it. "As long as it gets us through the city gates, it'll be fine."

"I wish I was as optimistic as you." Edeline shook her head.

Myronel was about to offer words of comfort, but a rustling among the bushes told him that Hamond and Sedat were returning. They emerged a moment later, with the look on Hamond's face making it clear he still didn't have an answer.

Sedat seemed to be in a good mood at least. "Going to eat the meat," she half-sang, her scratchy and rough voice not exactly ideal for melodies.

"I promised her we'd find the best butcher in Melyn, and buy her something special for a meal," Hamond explained.

"So earning additional coin is more important now," Myronel noted. Perhaps this was Hamond's real talent, finding people who thought with their bellies at times. It was the one thing Edeline and Sedat did have in common. Of course, Sedat had a very good reason for it. Edeline...that was just how she'd always been.

"That does sound nice." His sister just had to immediately prove it. "Although it may have to wait on our other business here."

"But I'll need the energy for flying again," Sedat protested. "Besides, got to get me more food anyway, or...you know what I'm like when I get bird headed."

How Sedat had come to describe that aspect of her condition that way, Myronel wasn't sure. It would be almost funny if the consequences weren't so dire. Having her body partly changed to that of a bird came with animal instinct, and if Sedat was hungry or pressed, those instincts would awaken. The winged girl had held them in check the few times it had happened, but there were no guarantees that would last.

"Don't test your luck," Hamond warned his apprentice.

"Can I test my wings instead?" Sedat asked, "Maybe this time I'll actually be able to stay up in the air for more than a few moments."

"You're the one who told me that your shoulders get sore. You hurt yourself badly up there, you won't be flying again for a month."

"You know that you're starting to sound like Nela," Myronel remarked, unable to stop himself.

"I did spend time working with her grandfather," Hamond said, with a slight smile. "Guess some of that got passed on to the both of us."

"What's that about my grandfather?" Nela came stomping into the camp, looking irritated. Jylania silently approached as well, not meeting anyone's gaze.

"Just talking with Hamond," Myronel reassured her.

"Bet he'd sort all this out, much faster and steadier than we could." It hurt, hearing the bitterness in Nela's voice. "But enough of arguing for one night. Which of us is preparing the food again?"