Heirs of Hyarch

Sitting on a flat rock near the flickering fire, Hamond was glad they were done with that place.

The visit to the summer house had brought back too many memories of his own childhood, of seeing the thin wasted shell that had been his mother. For a moment there, Hamond had almost wanted to put an end to Lord Hallowscroft's suffering himself. He'd thankfully stopped himself, knowing it would just leave Edeline and Myron with far more pain and grief than he'd ever had.

After leaving the summer house, they'd feigned a return to Hallowscroft, only to veer off the road into the forest nearby. Going by the map Myron had brought, by tomorrow they could make it to the main road heading north to Kelshir, and go from there.

In the meantime, they had set up a small camp. It had been quite some time since Hamond hadn't had a roof over his head. While he wouldn't say he preferred it, he wasn't going to complain overmuch. He'd long since adjusted to the discomfort and dangers of life on the road. After all, he'd always expected to end up here again eventually.

Hamond let out a low sigh. As much as he wanted to keep avoiding the real problem he was facing, he couldn't keep distracting himself by thinking about everything else. The excuse of having to worry about their lives had all but worn out.

He had feelings - real feelings - for Edeline. And he was fairly certain she felt the same.

The words to say this to her eluded him. The possibility of romance had always been far from the front of his mind. Sure, Hamond wouldn't have objected...no, he would have. Most women would not be prepared to deal with the consequences of their beloved being a wanted man. Which, by elimination, meant that the remnant were mostly women who also had a price on their heads.

Such as Edeline.

The irony of that, as well as that of her parentage, was not lost on him.

Hamond knew he ought to be getting some sleep, but how could he when thoughts of him and Edeline kept him awake? Not that the thoughts were entirely unpleasant, but...he really was a loss as what to do.

At least him being awake served a practical purpose. They hadn't discussed someone standing watch, a risk to take on the road. As they were likely going to end up as fugitives, it became even more important to rotate someone looking out for danger. At least, it was highly unlikely this night that any real threat would-

Someone laid their hand on his shoulder.

Hamond leaped off the rock, spinning. Standing there was Edeline, one hand holding a blanket wrapped around her. Her other arm was half outstretched, thrown off by his sudden movement.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly, the surprise on her face quickly replaced by amusement.

"I'm fine," Hamond answered, realizing how foolish he looked. "Just not able to sleep."

"The same for me," Edeline said. Hamond had thought she had been sleeping soundly, but apparently not. At least Nela and Myron were getting their rest, bundled together under the same set of blankets.

Taking in a deep breath, Hamond sat back down. A moment later, Edeline sat on the rock next to him.

"It's a lovely night." Edeline looked up towards the sky, which was mostly obscured by the dark tree branches overhead. Suddenly, she slapped at one of her arms. "I would appreciate it better though if I was not getting bit so often."

Hamond, who had been already bitten a few times himself, could sympathize. Biting bugs were anything but fun.

Staying silent for the moment, she continued to gaze up. "I never really doubted what path my life would take," Edeline finally said, "While I chafed under the burdens of nobility, occasionally indulged in little acts of rebellion, I never truly tried to fight against them. It was just the way it was. I was Edeline Hallowscroft, and did not need to be anything else."

"I'm not sure I would consider studying thaumaturgy to be a little act of anything," Hamond pointed out.

"Regardless...I never challenged any of it." Edeline swallowed audibly. "Was it similar for you too? Did you always believe you would be part of the Spellking's court?"

Hamond had to stop and consider how to answer. "Not entirely. I never particularly liked the major events, the parties and feasts with all the nobles and servants running around, with rumors and gossip at every turn. I still foolishly thought I might serve the Spellking elsewhere, though. But it did make it easy to question certain things, and I suppose that is what led me to rejecting their methods."

"And I am grateful for it," Edeline said, looking him in the eyes. "But at the end of it all, we both have a love for thaumaturgy."

"I suppose," Hamond replied.

"You suppose? What do you mean by that?"

"Knowing what you do about your father now, how do you feel about what you learned as a noblewoman?" Hamond asked her, shifting slightly on the stony seat to feel more comfortable. "The courtly graces and proper manners, among other things."

Even in the dim light of the fire, Hamond could see Edeline's eyes widen briefly. "Oh. I think I see. You're saying learning the truth about them crippled your passion."

"For a time, yes. But it was all I knew." It was Hamond's turn to look up into the night. "I think me becoming a healer was as much about putting distance between myself and who I'd been as it was putting those skills to beneficial use."

"And now?" Edeline leaned a little closer.

"Now...well, we saw those ruins. The enchantments on every stone, persisting for who knows how long. That feeling of knowing how little I understood, how much there was to learn...it came back. That old curiosity is still part of me." Hamond lifted up one hand in front of his face, studying it. "I'm still a thaumaturge. I always will be."

"I wish we could have studied those passages in more detail, for your sake" Edeline said.

"I'm confident there are other ruins much like those. If we intend to look for more such statues, we will find them. And hopefully then...we will have the time."

"I will make sure of it." Edeline smiled slightly. "Although convincing my brother and Nela may not be easy."

"Thank you," Hamond said.

"I should be thanking you," Edeline replied, "You saved me."

"You did save my life too." Hamond shook his head, not really wanting this to get in a comparison of who owed who. "Or did you forget the fight with the watch captain?"

"Not exactly what I meant," Edeline said. "Besides, you also saved us against that group of kobolds. And then there was-"

"Enough," Hamond interrupted, holding in a chuckle. "Can we just agree to both keep saving each other, without having to keep count?"

"But then when they write poems about us, they will get the details wrong," Edeline protested, before her straight face gave way.

All Hamond could do was groan to himself, because the alternative was laughing out loud and possibly waking Myron and Nela. It was a relief, that despite everything, Edeline was still herself. He hoped that it was the case that, if what had happened here did not break her spirit, then nothing in all of Hyarch or the lands beyond could.

"Along the way, do you think you could instruct me in thaumaturgy?" Edeline asked after a moment. "Not just additional spells, but the theories and laws like the one you brought up before. If I could understand them better...no, I need to."

"I could," Hamond said, "But you did have a book for that, didn't you?"

"It did not have much more to it than what I had already learned. And if I left it, someone could find it as another clue to what happened. So I burned it in the hearth before we departed."

Hamond couldn't bring himself to disagree. As it was, there were enough witnesses whose stories, once put together, would paint quite the grim picture of what the four of them had done.

"Very well, I suppose I will." He then grinned widely. "My fee will be two hexty pikers."

"Really now," Edeline said, faking a pout, "I suppose you are going to charge me the healer's fee too."

"Now that you mention it..." Hamond trailed off, then found himself yawning. So much for keeping watch, because it was unlikely he would be able to stay awake much longer. "Honestly...I think we're past that."

"Good." To his surprise, Edeline leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Edeline...I..." Hamond tried once again to find the words. Still, they evaded him.

Lifting up one side of the blanket, Edeline draped it over the two of them, pressing her body up against Hamond's. "Don't worry. I know."

Realizing what those words meant, knowing now with no doubt what he meant to her, Hamond paused for just a moment. Then, slowly and carefully, he leaned over as well.

There would be plenty of time ahead, in the days and months to come, for them to figure out what words they could say to each other to express their feelings. In the now, though, simple gestures would work just fine to show the truth. For Hamond, that was more than enough, he thought as he let his eyes drift closed.

For now, and for what was to come, they could simply just lean on each other.