"Lady Astoria, thank you for letting us inside your walls."
The tavern quieted down, all watching the interaction like hawks.
"Hello, and welcome. Please take a seat and drink something while you tell us about your act."
"Thank you... um, does the tavern hold any tea?" the man asked politely.
I looked to Setil, who in turn looked at her husband, Stuart, who brought the travelers their drinks and stayed by her side, listening. They reached for coins, but payment was politely refused.
"You're very generous. It's delicious," Ceron said, tasting a little and nodding to the other two, who took a sip as well.
"I'm Ceron, and those two are my sons, Hectos and Neily. The people outside are mostly family. Our troupe is well trained in acting, singing, dancing, and reading the future!"
We were all on the same page until that last bit.
Just then, Alexander came inside with two of our soldiers. "Leader Zephyr returned. He will arrive in a minute; he needs some time to... clean up."
I see. First Acolyte Levitan is with Ehlite, then?
"Please continue. My husband is not much for formalities. Go on. What does future reading entail?" I hurried them along, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"O-oh right. My niece, Veila, can read one's future—her predictions are what led us here. You see, we were on our way to Malai City when she turned us around and towards your little town."
She can tell the future. She must be Blessed...
The doors swung open. "Sorry for being late, but peace requires time."
My husband, in fresh clothes and with damp hair, arrived with a large smile. The Monroe man stood up, but they were wholly ignored.
Zephyr picked up a running blue bolt (Anna) and kissed me, letting his wet hair wet mine. He smelled metallic, like blood. Clean as he was, the smell was another thing. Yet he was happy, so it must be good news.
"Hello, I'm Zephyr Astoria. Please forgive my interruption. Carlos! Come, hear my tale."
He let me go and waved to the still-standing Ceron to sit after a quick handshake. Then, he walked outside, holding Anna as Carlos, Ciren, Alexander, Lucian, and well, almost everyone closely followed.
They heard him saying Carlos! Right!?
It was only the patrons, my sisters, and Setil that remained. But even Eli and Demelza wanted to go with them, I could tell. Their solidarity was felt.
Ceron and his sons were shocked. Meeting a more aloof leader like my husband is hard.
"See? Not much for formalities at all. I would love to meet your niece, Veila," I tried to regain the conversation.
He didn't understand what was happening, but we all mostly knew what happened. He promised peace, and he probably already delivered.
"A-absolutely, my Lady. Your husband, if you don't mind me saying, is quite intimidating," Ceron finally woke up.
He came in smiling and kissed a little girl and his wife. What's so intimidating about that?
"Oh, he is harmless... mostly. Let us go. Uhh... Menir! Look after the tavern, will you?"
"What? Oh yeah, sure." Poor man had been enjoying some time with his wife in peace but paid attention.
With his agreement confirmed, I turned towards the already standing trio. "Let's go."
We left quickly, and the tavern was left in capable, if slightly confused, hands.
~
Inside the Hall, about twenty people were already enjoying Mother's food and sharing hot beverages. I saw the child from before—a little girl about Anna's age eating some chocolates with the other four children around her, all a little older and enjoying the taste of the sweets.
"Family, this is our benefactor and the Lady of the village. Her name is Lylly Astoria."
I returned their waves. This 'troupe' looked like awfully happy people. They all looked colorful and full of life, if somewhat hungry and cold.
Soon, Ceron's own sons joined the others and ate happily as Ceron himself went and returned with a shy little girl. She looked... eleven? Or fifteen? Skinny, tall, light brown hair, and adorable dimples on her cheeks.
"Veila, introduce yourself," Ceron nudged her.
She bowed a little. "Veila Monroe, pleased to meet your Ladyship."
She was more nervous than the others. She didn't look as happy and bubbly as a performer would.
Her uncle nudged her again. "...I can peek into some futures if Ehlite allows me." She kept it short.
Yeah, she didn't look like someone who was very willing.
"I see. Please, Mr. Monroe, may I borrow your niece for a little while? I promise to return her soon and unharmed," I joked.
He was surprised but quickly agreed. "Of course, absolutely." He turned his niece around. "Veila, be a good girl and be nice to the Lady. We are guests here."
She looked a bit scared but just nodded slightly and followed us outside.
We didn't talk much and went towards Mother's house, which was empty.
"Please take a seat. Eli, bring something hot for her, please," I asked.
She took a seat, and I started on the fire. By the time the tea was ready, the place started to lose its chill.
We sat around her, and the others didn't understand why I'd brought her alone.
"First of all, tell me about your power. You don't like to use it?"
She shook her head, a little panicky. "N-no, no, it's an honor to—"
"Please, be honest, dear."
She calmed down and understood we didn't bring her here to exploit her—I'm pretty sure—Blessing.
Veila still shook her head. "It's not as if it's painful... it's just, sometimes... I see bad futures, and people dislike hearing bad news. Uncle tells me to make something good up, but I'm not a performer like my family."
That was understandable. People paid in hopes of good news: coins, land, good health, a son to be born, that sort of thing.
"But it's not something you can control," Demelza patted her hand, gently calming her. "Those people should accept that... even if I know they won't."
"But here you don't have to worry about such things. Oh, I'm Eleanor Wold. Lylly's sister, and she is Demelza Jartok." My sister filled the gaps for her.
She visibly calmed. Her shoulders slumped a little, and her breathing slowed down. "Thank you, sincerely." She sighed.
After that, we got to talk in a much lighter atmosphere about her life on the road.
"...We usually stay for a week, more if there's interest."
"...Unfortunately, no. We never left Insatel."
"...No, it's hard to meet anyone and settle down. Hopefully, one day."
She opened up the more we talked, so I asked the most important question.
"Your uncle told us... you redirected your people from Malai towards here because you saw something. What exactly?"
I hadn't wanted to ask immediately since she was frightened enough. Even now, she was shy and didn't answer right away.
"Don't worry, as we said, it won't—"
"I was told to read a man's future a few days ago. He was a strange one. Tall, two daggers. He was scary but paid two gold for my uncle," she reached inside her boots and pulled out a gold coin.
Her voice got quiet, as if someone was listening in on us. "He didn't even let me read him in the end. Handed me an extra gold to head here towards Emet and to lie to my uncle about it."
The coin she pulled out had Chensler's likeness edged onto it.
But what froze me and Demelza was her description of the man responsible for their arrival. He sounded like... Marcus.