"So, you and Leona, huh? Quite the woman you've gotten yourself," I began, breaking the silence. "Shut up, child of the ass," Bernar grinned, punching me in the shoulder. "Hey!" I exclaimed while laughing, making Meliss laugh at our exchange. "I've always wished I had a brother. I think we would've been the same way," she said with a smile.
"No, you don't. He's an asshole," I jutted my thumb at him. "And you're a shit bird," Bernar added, making Meliss laugh again. "Wait, why are you laughing at that?" I asked with genuine confusion. "Apparently, that's how he introduced you to Leona when we first started riding with you," she giggled.
I stared at him with a chagrined smile.
"W-What?" he shrugged. "I might just tell Leona about the Dawn Nymph. You know, an accidental slip of the tongue or something," I turned my head and put a finger on my chin. "You wouldn't dare…" he seethed. "Oh-ho, I would and you know it," I grinned, knowing I had him in the palm of my hand.
Meliss, of course, was confused as shit the whole time.
"Anyway, getting back on the other topic, I don't know that you would like to have a brother like us," Bernar said, trying his best to divert away from that conversation. "Why's that?" she asked bluntly. "You're a lady," he said with a smile. "And that has something to do with it? You have female Synners, do you not?" she said, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
"We do, but they're all brutes in their own rights. Oftentimes, they're even more aggressive than the boys. Also, why every one of them assumes they can kick my ass is beyond me," Bernar said, rolling his eyes, making us all laugh. As the three of us laughed, Leona glanced back at the laughter's origin.
She saw Bernar's smile, and I could tell she felt something stirring in her stomach. She smiled when she saw us getting along well with Meliss, and probably felt a happiness she hadn't felt in a long time, and slowed her horse to join us.
"I hope I'm not intruding on whatever fun you're having," she said, riding beside my brother. "Never," I said with a tired smile. "You bring joy and light to even the darkest of places, and I pray, for my brother's sake, that you continue to do so, Your Majesty," I said, glancing at him, who was trying to subtly motion for me to stop. Leona laughed when she noticed the exchange. "So, you know, then?" she asked bluntly.
"I might be a shit bird, but I'm not an idiot, Your Majesty," I said wryly, getting a small scoff from her as she looked at Bernar. "I didn't say anything, he figured it out alone," he shrugged. "And do you approve of what you say you know?" she asked, genuinely seeking my approval. "If what I believe I know to be true, then you have my blessing," I said warmly.
Leona smiled and nodded slowly.
"When we make camp, I'd like to speak to you alone, if possible, Thoma," she said. "Have I done something wrong?" I asked, already fearing the worst. "No, no. Nothing like that. I just want to have a conversation without anyone influencing your answers," she gave Bernar a short glance. "I see. In that case, I look forward to our meeting, Your Majesty," I said, bowing as much as I could without dehorsing Meliss.
Leona looked at me curiously and sighed, though I couldn't tell of what I'd said or my lack of grace. "You needn't call me that any longer. You are now my friend, and since I am no longer queen of Coltend, nor am I in the presence of other officials, there is no need for such formalities," she said with a smile. "Oh, thank fuck. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep that up with how tired I am, and I've always hated titles," I groaned.
I could tell my response caught her completely by surprise because her pale blue eyes widened to their limits. "Well, that was quick, just like your brother," she chuckled. "Eh, I don't know how you manage to upkeep formalities around those bureaucratic fuck sticks for hours on end," I shrugged. "Well, you get used to it. If not, you become an unladylike figure in their eyes, which, as a queen, is not something you want to be seen as being," she said, her face contorting from its bright smile into a pained one.
Being unladylike in her position would probably create enmity among some of the officials, perhaps even leading some to question her capabilities as a ruler, I thought.
"Can't say I disagree with you, even with my limited experience in political matters," I sighed. "Fair enough, but let's talk about the more pleasant things in life," Leona said invitingly. The four of us rode on, telling jokes, stories, and adventures we had had in our pasts. Meliss had very little to say, since she had been a servant girl nearly all of her life, but she enjoyed the tales of Bernar's drunken acts and my bravado to try and contain my older brother.
Leona shared a few of her own, which surprised all of us, since no one suspected her of being capable of such things. She took little pride in her adventures, but was happy to finally share a few of them with people who didn't seem to worship or judge her every word.
We rode onward until the sun began to set to our right, transforming the land and trees about them into a golden-red river of windblown grass and trees. "Still not as impressive as the Elv Avliv at this time of day," Bernar said. "That place was truly spectacular, was it not?" Leona asked with a bright smile. "It really was," he replied warmly, and I was glad to see them getting along as well as they did.
Meanwhile, Anwill and Roburn had been conversing the whole journey together, discussing what they needed to do in unison to open the Portal Stone that lay in the network of sewers beneath the city. The Master spotted movement in the distance and raised his hand, signaling a halt to the others who followed him. "Is that who I think it is?" Garett asked. "The one and only," the Master replied quietly.
"We have already seen you, Jehn," the Master called out. "No point in hiding anymore," he continued. The old farmer slowly moved out from behind the large oak that he had hidden behind. "Forgive me, Master. Been a while since I've seen any come o'er them hills," he said, pointing in the general direction. The Master glanced over at Garett, who simply shrugged.
"Who did you think we were, my good man?" he asked. "I dunno. Bandits, mayhaps," Boone replied with a shrug. The Master looked around him, realizing just how far this man had come from his farmstead. "I take it you're out on a stroll?" the Master asked. "Nay, truth be told I were lookin' for ye, Master," Boone replied. "Looking for me? What for?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Well, the reason be as follows: After ye'd saved me from them damned abominations, I made my way to the market in Coltend. There, the vendor I were to sell me goods to asked me why some were fouled. I told him the tale, I did, and he were taken aback. He sent a letter off to the palace with a messenger of sorts, and no sooner was I summoned to meet with a man they called Father Mourtis. He questioned my house's where'bouts, an' I told him my farm lies about half a day's ride from yer fortress on the border of Kinth," Boone said, gesturing in the general location of his farm.
I looked at Bernar briefly, but he didn't seem to know anything about it either.
"He then asked me to spy on ye for a pretty amount of crescents, an' that I were to report to him an' none else. I agreed, I did, for my family an' I needed the coin at the time, an' yet, I'm sorry for nay havin' told ye," Boone said with his head low.
The Master looked around to see if anyone within earshot stirred at the information being said rather loudly. "I understand, Boone, I do. However, I must ask you how you sent the reports," he asked. "Why, even with the good Father's payments, I don't have the coin to use ravens, so I sent me son once every couple'a days to deliver the messages," Boone replied as though his reply should have been obvious.
"It's not him," Garett whispered. "But he did send messages nonetheless,' the Master replied. "So what do we do?" Garett asked. The Master paused momentarily, then looked at Boone, who was becoming a little nervous. "You are but a simple farmer, who needed the coin; that much I can understand. However, I must ask you never to send reports to Father Mourtis or anyoneelse who wishes to know of our whereabouts. Do you understand?" the Master asked.
"Oh, not me, Master! Me hands an' mouth are sealed shut like a bear trap," Boone shook his head, motioning to his mouth. "I hope so, for all our sakes," he nodded, causing Boone to pause momentarily, looking down at the ground around him.
"Master, there be one last thing I wish to tell ye," he began.