"War?" Lord Maledic said.
His question was not the same as Aureum's.
"Between two major city-states, that has to be agreed upon by the council of Aeternitus. There has been no council."
Lord Maledic spoke from his chair to a messenger. This was a man from the city of Lapis and was no freelancer. He worked only for the Lapis family, as the embroidered diamond upon his shoulder signified.
"Between two major city-states, yes. But Nix is declaring that because Fluentem has many lords, he does not have to recognize any of them. He says taking a major city-state that has been lordless for so long is a matter of order and his duty."
Fluentem, alongside its university, had many seats called the position of lord. This council of ten discussed and decided things together. No individual stood atop the others.
These days, the Lords of Fluentem spoke as if this was some marvel of their own ingenuity, but Maledic remembered the origin of the tradition. It had begun as not a single sorcerer would step up to take responsibility for the diminishing city-state. Instead, those that had stayed decided to stand or fall as a group.
Maledic wondered if it was a kind of wisdom to repeatedly stumble onto such diverse solutions, or just the ingenuity of desperation.
The fact remained that now each one was a lord in their own right, and Fluentem was obviously no longer a city falling into chaos.
"How convenient for him," Maledic said.
"We heard you had guests from Nix?"
"Not as of last night," Lord Maledic said.
The ill man had died. After so many days of their tireless antics, Maledic had not expected the death. So he had gritted his teeth to begin the diplomatic debacle he was sure to occur. When they left so quickly afterwards, he let out a breath of relief. He had known there would be a trap, but he was so weary of their presence he took the alternatives with joy.
Lord Maledic and the residents of the Hidden Manor had buried the man under an unmarked stone just this morning.
Now, Maledic knew that it had been planned all along. His grip on the chair tightened, despite his previous knowledge of Nix's tricks.
He played his part well.
"I will tell you what I can of them," Lord Maledic told the messenger. "But don't expect much. They were my personal distraction, I believe. Instead, I'd like to arrange a meeting with the Lord of Lapis."
The Lapises were Lord Maledic's offspring, but he had long since separated from them. He had thought, despite the distance of familiarity, he still knew them. Vitreum proved this false, but at least they must still respect him.
The messenger hesitated.
"Of course my lord would love to meet with you," he began. "But with current events I cannot speak for his open schedule."
Maledic gave a slow blink.
"…I see," he said. "You may stay and rest or return to Lapis immediately as you see fit. You are dismissed."
The messenger left, and Lord Maledic was left with all the thoughts he had to order. Certainly, if Nix attacked Fluentem, it meant Nix thought they could take it. With Mors, that may prove more difficult than they expected.
"If Lord Nix won't call the council, then I will," Maledic said.
"You, my lord?" Aes asked. "You haven't attended in decades, if not a century! Why is it necessary to dignify his actions with your presence?"
"I must be there. He wants to frighten and bully the other city-states. I shall not let it stand. I did not fight for a future like the past. If my presence validates the threat he poses, so be it. The leaders of Aeternitus will be warned."
"As you say, my Lord," Aes said.
———————————————————
Aureum stood as if struck by lightning for a few moments. She felt lightheaded while her stomach had plummeted.
She swiveled on her feet. Hiems grabbed her.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"What are you talking about?" Aureum said. "We have to go! We can help!"
Hiems shook his head and pulled Aureum a little closer. It was a bit difficult with Gemmo in his arms.
"Think," he said. "If we're hearing about it, it has already begun in force. All we could do is get trapped there with them. That does no one any good."
Aureum shook her arm and pulled away again.
"Lacuna won't be fighting," Hiems said.
"But Sitis would be!" Aureum said.
Hiems' mouth thinned.
"We are not a battalion," he said. "Our presence will not turn the tide of a war."
"Why do you always give up so easily!" Aureum shouted.
"Forgive me," the man at the messenger outpost said, "the news is hitting everyone hard, but you may want to discuss this in a more private setting—
"I do not!" Aureum shot at him.
The man was quiet. Hiems was quiet. Even Gemmo was quiet in his arms. Aureum stilled.
"Fine, let's head back first! For decency's sake!"
The last bit was snarled with fury.
At least she moved with more direction and less panic. Not that her stomps in the pavement sounded like much improvement.
"You can let go of me now," Aureum said.
Hiems was still holding onto her. He didn't let go but did loosen his grip.
"I said—
"I just don't want you flying away if my back is turned," Hiems said.
"I'm not that foolish," Aureum said.
"I never said it was foolish," Hiems said.
"You just acted like I was deranged for wanting to help my friends!"
"Anyone wanting to go into war willingly is deranged," Hiems said, with a tone like ice. He tried to soften it. "I understand your care for your friends, but they wouldn't want us to get ourselves killed."
Aureum jerked her hand away. She sighed. She wasn't some young girl.
I should know better, she thought.
"Do you understand?" She said. "I suppose you're right. We should just sit and wait for news… maybe they're already out, but I hate it."
The image of Lacuna, sweet Lacuna, having to deal with a night like the one where they escaped the Hidden Manor was a terror.
A war? War?!
It could be endless nights like that on a larger scale.
"There is something we can do," Hiems said. "Maybe."
"What?" Aureum asked.
———————————————————
The two stepped out of the paper shop for the second time that day.
"Why does it cost so much?" Aureum said.
"It's a premium service," Hiems said.
"Premium service?" She asked. "What if it rains?"
"The paper is waxed and imbued with mana," Hiems said. "And it's sunny."
"Let's write it while it's still sunny," Aureum said.
They rushed back to the inn but didn't change rooms yet. Instead, Aureum sat down to write.
"Let's see, we can't say much if we want them to give a reply on the same sheet. But I need to tell them a bit of what happened. Hmmmm."
It's Aureum. I found Hiems again and picked up a kid. He's called Gemmo, and it's a nice name. Couldn't write for a long time. We heard about Fluentem. Please write your reply here. You can send the letter back to me.
"Is that it?!" Hiems said, shocked.
"They need space to write back! And if I try to tell them everything, it'll take four pages!"
"There has to be a better way to write it—
"It's already written! This is ink!"
Gemmo hugged his sack doll and fell onto the floor. The shopping trip had left him tired, but he didn't want to go to sleep.
Aureum felt him move. She turned around and saw the little boy rolled up. She pulled a blanket over him.
The pathetic letter would have to do.
"How do we send it?" Aureum asked.
"We need what I said earlier, something that was owned by the recipient."
Aureum hesitated.
"You said you had something," Hiems said.
"I thought it was worth anything to try," Aureum said.
She untied her hair. The blue ribbon Lacuna had given her was pulled from it.
Hiems locked his jaw as he looked at it.
"Is that it?"
"Yes, it's the ribbon she bought for me," Aureum said. "Do you think it would work?"
No, was read loud and clear from his body language.
"You can try it," Hiems said, his voice grating with irritation.
Aureum jumped to attach it to the letter. A needle and thread appeared from the ring. Hiems sighed.
"I guess I should be happy it will actually fit on a letter, like I told you," he said.
After stitching it onto the letter, Aureum sat back fidgeting.
"How do I fold it?" She said.
Hiems leaned over and did it himself. He didn't have the patience to speak.
Then they both sat back.
"What happens now?" Aureum said.
Nothing, Hiems thought.
Without a person's mana inside the letter, nothing would happen.
Maybe it'll fly towards Aureum. What should I tell her?
That we wasted all that money because she clung to a foolish hope?!
"Look, it's twitching!" Aureum said. "I'll open up the window."
"You might not have to bother—
The window clattered open. Aureum sat back with excitement. Hiems leaned back with dread.
The little letter, folded into a crane, slowly fluttered. It rose, bobbing like it was on some great body of water.
Hiems and Aureum held their breath.
It slowly looked at the window. And bobbed towards it.
The little letter slid through the big window and out into the sky.
Hiems let out his breath. Aureum jumped up and watched it go.
It flew. Up high overhead of all the people in the street, it drifted forward.
"Will it make it?" Aureum said. "It seems a bit off."
And small, she thought. And unsure.
"We can hope," Hiems said. "I can't tell you it will work. I wish you had said all we had to try was a ribbon she hardly used."
Aureum steepled her fingers as she grinned.
"But then you wouldn't have tried it, right?" She said.
"I…"
Hiems shook his head.
"That's not supposed to be an excuse for lying to me."
"I have too much blackmail on you," Aureum said. "You can't tell me anything."
Hiems scoffed.
Aureum cackled.
It was too much emotion for the joke.
She sank back down, tired. Hiems went and picked Gemmo up, still wrapped in the blanket. He stopped in front of her feet.
"Did you forget we still have to change the room?" He said.
"Agh!" Aureum sat up.
Then sagged.
"…We could always not?" Hiems said.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Aureum said.
"Yes," Hiems simply replied.
"…"
"Was I supposed to say no?"
"I'm not in the mood," Aureum said.
No, that's not it! She thought.
"Stop trying to distract me," she said. "Let's get two different rooms."
"…As you like," Hiems said.
It was a quick thing. Luggage was easy with the ring. The worst part was talking with the owner about the mistake. She was amicable to it but raised an eyebrow. Aureum felt her face flush again, for what felt like the hundredth time.
Hiems didn't explain anything about the situation. He just said they would like to ask for two rooms, but assumptions were being made.
Aureum demanded Gemmo stay with her, and Hiems offered no resistance. She waved at him as she closed her door.
Finally, Aureum was mostly alone. She sagged against the door.
She felt her eyes sting.
"Bwahhh."
Gemmo was up. Of course he was. He'd just woken up from a little nap. Aureum pulled him into the bed anyways. She gave him an hour at most before he toppled over again.
"You're not fussy at all for something so little that's been through so much," she said to him, idly. "Thank you."
After all that, Aureum couldn't relax either. Exhaustion only fueled her fearful thoughts. She kept twitching at shadows.
They had sent a letter. Maybe it wouldn't make it, and that would be sad. At least Lacuna might still be fine in that scenario. But there were worse outcomes.
But what if they need help, and their reply doesn't make it in time?
What if it's already too late?
She turned over again.
What about my parents?
They were the lesser concern, since it was unlikely Nix was being attacked by Fluentem. It was doubly unlikely they would be fighting anyway.
But it wasn't like she could just not worry.
Felixia's too sensible to do anything stupid, like run off to war.
Aureum's clenched hand hit the bed.
And what everybody said about me was that I was too lazy.
Gemmo gurgled in confusion. Aureum dragged herself back up.
"Hmmmm," Aureum said. "What shall we do?"
She tried to smoosh the internal panic with focus. She reached out and squished Gemmo's cheeks.
"Pwaff!"
Gemmo squirmed to get away. Aureum let him go. The more she struggled with him, the more awake he would get. She got out of the bed.
It was almost without thought she pulled her spear out and stabbed it.
The smooth movements relaxed her. She had to do it quietly, which for Aureum meant slowly.
In the little room, she couldn't do any larger motions, unless she wanted to pay for everything. That was fine. She also couldn't move too much from the center. It ended up being more beneficial as practice because of this, but Aureum wasn't thinking about that.
It was the first time in a while since she got to practice. Being on the run was a terrible time to build strength. The muscles that had been so attuned to these movements before felt the strain of them again.
Not being able to eat and rest well had made her weaker, but she glided through it.
The break in practice forced her to look at them differently again. To feel them differently.
She didn't think of anything. She didn't want to think of anything. She just focused on the next intricate motion she could do.
In the room over, Hiems listened.
He'd thought it was his imagination at first, but no, the soft footsteps were real.
He pressed himself closer to the wall.