"I'm back," Nela said as she entered the house.

  Edeline looked over as her companion shut the door behind her. Taking Jelinia to spend the day with Astorel and Centurla hadn't been an idea Nela had seemed fond of, but they could hardly have the girl around while they discussed vital matters with Lady Kelshir. She also could not rule out the possibility that Jelinia would have to sleep overnight with them, depending on their decision.

  They had not had the opportunity to tell Nela and Hamond the truth about Lady Kelshir yet. When they had gotten back last evening, Nela had already fallen asleep after a quick meal. They had postponed it until they were all available this morning.

  Which was now.

  Hamond was packing away some leftover extra food, while Myron waited, leaning against the wall. Edeline gave him a look, hoping he got the message. They needed to get this settled before Lady Kelshir arrived.

  Meeting her gaze for a moment, Myron gave her a slight nod. "I have something I need to tell you regarding Lady Kelshir," he announced.

  "What is it?" Nela asked.

  "It's that Lady Kelshir recognized him, isn't it?" Hamond replied, not even looking up from his work. "He told us he'd been to Kelshir before. She probably met him then, or at least saw him."

  Edeline was not certain if she should be impressed or annoyed. The right conclusion, for completely incorrect reasons.

  "You're half right. She did recognize me, but there's more to it than that." Myron fixed his gaze on Nela. "Do you remember back when I told you about my father trying to arrange a marriage for me?"

  "What about it?" Nela said, "What does that...wait, was she the one who...shit."

  "She was first on the list, yes. He'd told me he was considering writing to Lord Kelshir about it, shortly before the king called for men for fighting the Spellking. Not knowing if it had ever happened, I assumed it had fallen apart when I met Edeline after we returned."

  "It was the first time I had heard of it," Edeline added. Now that she thought about it, she was uncertain if she had remembered the details correctly. It probably did not matter.

  Nela took a deep breath, regaining some of her composure. "So, other than learning that I should expect the most unlikely shit to happen around you two, exactly what does this change?"

  "Could end up working in our favor, or against us," Hamond noted, "I should not have mentioned your name in front of her though. I wouldn't have if I had known."

  "No, the fault is mine. I should have brought it up sooner." Edeline could tell this had been eating at her brother. Thankfully, neither of the other two seemed all that angry.

  "Good thing Miss Lady Lacey is sleeping in today." Nela walked back over to next to the door. "Guess I can't blame her. I'm still a little tired after yesterday."

  "If she's not ready after we've eaten, we ought to go see to her," Hamond said, "We can't wait too long."

  "Agreed." Myron had turned and was looking through his bag. A moment later he straightened up, having produced his flute.

  "Going to practice?" Nela asked.

  "I've nothing else to do." Myron raised the flute to his mouth, and began to play.

  It was a simple soft melody, soothing as it filled the air of the house. Edeline briefly wondered if anyone passing by outside would overhear, but she was enjoying the music too much to care. While he had not had an opportunity recently, more than one evening on the road she had fallen asleep as her brother practiced a song.

  It was almost enough to keep her thoughts off of what they would be doing today.

  Almost.

  With a long low final note, Myron finished his song. He looked around the room, taking in each of their reactions. Well, Nela and Edeline's at least. Hamond had remained focused on stirring the food, paying Myron no heed. Maybe he was a little more frustrated about Myron not speaking about the Lady Kelshir matter than Edeline had first thought.

  "You keep getting better," Nela declared, "Give you a few years, you'll be the best flute player in all of Hyarch."

  "I'm not that good," Myron protested, looking down at the flute. "It's just something that-"

  There was a quiet knock at the door.

  "Who's there?" Nela called out, even though Edeline knew they all had a good guess as to who it was.

  "May I come in?" Lady Kelshir's voice sounded muffled.

  Nela pulled the door open, and the noblewoman entered. She was still wearing the same outfit from yesterday. Edeline would have expected her to ask for something else to change into. Aether, she remembered when she used to love fancy dresses as a child. Once, in another time and another place...but neither of those was here or now.

  "I take it you are all doing well." It was polite small talk, the kind of greeting Edeline recognized. This whole conversation was going to be like staring at a reflection of her younger self, wasn't it?

  "Doing quite fine this morning. How about you?" Myron remembered this type of manners as well. Lady Kelshir would probably take notice, using it as further proof of who Myron was.

  "I am feeling a bit famished, particularly since I did not have anything to eat since yesterday," Lady Kelshir answered.

  "You have not eaten?" Edeline was astonished.

  "I did not want to impose-" she started to say, her face flushing.

  "Don't be stupid!" Nela cut her off, "The elves would have given you food if you asked. You'll make yourself sick if you don't eat."

  Everyone else in the room stared at Nela. Edeline had to wonder where this outburst came from. Likely something from her training as a healer, although Nela had never been this vehement about their food before. Of course, none of them had missed a meal, so...that could be it.

  "My lady," Myron said hurriedly, "Please excuse my companion. She meant no offense."

  "None was taken. I indeed should have eaten. Would any of you happen to have any food available?"

  Hamond had already anticipated this, as he had a half-wrapped piece of bread in hand. "You'll have to settle for this," he said as he handed it over.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Lady Kelshir took a small bite. For a brief moment, she winced, clearly not liking the taste. In honesty, Edeline had to admit she wasn't fond of it either. Hamond had gotten the bread from one of the Elefae - she was not sure who specifically had given him it.

  They waited a bit more, as Lady Kelshir slowly ate the bread. Edeline had never been taught to eat quite this slowly, and as far as she could recall, Lady Hallowscroft had not either. This wasn't a matter of manners, but a trait specific to Lady Kelshir herself.

  "Lady Kelshir," Myron started to say.

  "Please, do call me Anthyla," the noblewoman gently rebuked Myron with a small gesture. "If you are not going by your title, then I should not as well." There was a pause, as her eyes widened. "Hold a moment. Are they aware of your identity?"

  "Yes." Myron's response was blunt.

  "It is a surprise that you are still alive. One of the king's court members had written to inform my father of your death on the battlefield."

  "Why would they notify him?" Myron asked, seemingly more thinking out loud than actually asking anyone. Edeline had to agree that someone in the royal court, possibly the minister who had written the letter to their father, was plotting something.

  "I do not know. I never saw the actual message." Lady Kelshir...excuse her, Anthyla, was pale. "I would suppose rumor of our fathers' arrangement may have gotten out."

  Edeline could believe that. Word spread quickly of among those inclined to gossip. It was no small miracle that her father had kept her parentage secret for so many years. Something like an arranged marriage between two nobles, hardly a secret, would have easily been found out and retold in parlors and meetings over and over.

  "Does your family know you survived?" Anthyla continued, "I imagine the news would be devastating to have heard."

  "I can assure you that I have spoken to my father and sister since," Myron stated. Edeline wondered why he was specifically mentioning her. Or was he checking to see if Lady Kelshir recognized her as well?

  "That is good to hear." Lady Kelshir flashed a smile. So she didn't know that the Edeline Hallowscroft stood just a pace away from her. For some reason, Edeline found herself feeling slightly disappointed.

  Hamond cleared his throat. "I believe we ought to turn our attention to the more pressing matter of how to deal with the knights."

  "I have no objections." Her expression said otherwise. She was trying to delay having to deal with this topic, Edeline realized. "I am willing to share what I know about them, although my knowledge is limited."

  "Anything you can tell us will help," Myron reassured her.

  "Their headquarters is a compound in the northern part of the city. They do have their own gaol there, where they are probably keeping the members of the Order."

  "The opposite side of the city from where we are." Myron frowned. "I hate admitting it, but I think that rules out approaching with any stealth. It would be far too slow."

  "I do not see what the problem is," Lady Kelshir stated, "The Order's temple is only half a street away from their compound. I was able to easily make it across the city."

  "Yes, but you know your way around Kelshir. We do not." Myron crossed his arms. "Furthermore, we would have to avoid the city guard the entire way. With the general distrust of the Elefae, any one of them getting a good look at us would be on us."

  "Are you assuming I would not be accompanying you?" Lady Kelshir's sharp question caught Edeline off-guard. She hadn't been thinking they would need to escort the noblewoman, but...

  "No, I'm stating it. It's too dangerous for you." Myron's frown grew deeper. "You can wait here while we four handle it."

  "Hold on," Edeline said, "If we need to move quickly, a guide to lead us through the city would help. We're not likely to find anyone we can persuade to assist us once we enter Kelshir. She really is the only option for that."

  "That's far too risky," Myron said with a shake of his head.

  "Why are you trying to protect her so badly anyway?" Nela asked, voice raised. Edeline blinked. Was...was that jealousy she heard in Nela's voice?

  "Because if something bad befalls her, Lord Kelshir will likely blame the elves for it." Myron's voice was bitter. "Faehaven would not survive his retribution."

  A reasonable point, but her brother's argument was too close to the lies that one alderman has told her, all to try to hide that he knew of her royal bloodline. It was discouraging, seeing her brother take the same approach in such a similar scenario, likely for identical reasons.

  Edeline opened her mouth to protest, but Lady Kelshir spoke first. "I...I can not stay idly by and wait! I will not!" Her composure, which she had managed to maintain even through it all, was completely breaking apart. "I have to..."

  "It's fine," Myron said, voice softening. "You don't have to do anything. We can handle it."

  "I have to save her!"

  Edeline was taken aback at the panic in the noblewoman's voice. "Her?" she mouthed, trying to process this outburst.

  "Alright, calm down," Hamond spoke up again, "Who is she, and why do you want to save her?"

  "She is...she's a member of the Order. My...closest friend..." Anthyla looked away, but not before Edeline saw her rapidly reddening face. She knew that look, had wore it herself a few times. This was more than just a friend.

  "I don't think we have a choice then," Hamond stated, glancing at Myron. "If we leave here without her, she'll just try and follow us."

  Myron did not respond, instead staring at Anthyla with his jaw hanging open. Edeline was not sure why the surprise. After all, he...

  ...he knew what it was like to be a noble with a secret affair.

  In spite of herself, Edeline laughed. It was just too perfect. Myron Hallowscroft and Anthyla Kelshir really were well matched, in the most ironic way possible.

  "What's so funny?" Myron's confused look made it all the funnier, and Edeline found herself laughing all the harder.

  "Moving back to our plan," Hamond said, "If stealth is not an option, then we will need a distraction to draw the city watch away, long enough for us to get across Kelshir."

  "We'd have to use the tunnel into the city," Myron concluded.

  "But what if the knights know about it?" Edeline pointed out. Even if none of them had followed Lady Kelshir's trail, they would have had time by now to question the members of the Aetheric Order. One of them might have given in.

  "We can hardly use the city gates. We know they're guarded, so a distraction would not work then. Perhaps we could scale-"

  "Would they have men posted at the south gate? The one that they boarded up?" Edeline asked, an idea coming to mind.

  "I...do not know, but likely not," Anthyla answered, "I do recall my father commenting on having a shortage of men. Oh yes. The same applies to the knights, as many of them were sent to the battlefield as well."

  "Would've been nice if they'd sent that thaumaturge away as well," Nela grumbled.

  "Are you truly sure that they do have a thaumaturge? That would go against the king's decrees." Lady Kelshir's question was fair, Edeline supposed. She had not been at Verdan to see it.

  "Unless you have another explanation for why one was able to conjure a magical suit of armor, they do." Myron gritted his teeth. "We'll have to figure out how to deal with that when the time comes. But anyway...your idea?"

  "Right. I break down the south gate, which should draw the guard. If we move fast, we'll be away from it before they get there. Then we should be mostly free to go after the knights." Edeline paused, giving them time to consider it.

  "It certainly would not be what they expect," Myron said slowly, after a moment of thought. "The problem, of course, is that it would blow away any secrecy we had."

  "I think the time for running and hiding is over." Edeline smiled. "We knew we were going to face this fight eventually. And did you not once say something about eventually becoming today?"

  "I suppose I did," Myron said with a nod. "Shall we go with this plan?"

  "Running and hiding?" Anthyla's eyes widened as she realized the implications. "Just what did you do?"

  Hiding things at this point got them nothing. "It's complicated, but I think a proper introduction will help make things a little clearer." Edeline smiled sadly, fighting back a sudden surge of bittersweet emotions. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Anthyla Kelshir. I am - or used to go by - Edeline Hallowscroft."

  "You're his sister?" The blood drained from the other noblewoman's face.

  "Indeed. I can tell you more of the story later...after we have rescued the members of the Aetheric Order. Is that fair?"

  "That does sound reasonable." Anthyla gave her a steady look. "I will be looking forward to the tale."

  "So are we ready then?" Myron asked.

  "Not just yet," Hamond said, "We need to go tell Astorel and Centurla about the change in plans. And I have something else to speak about to them as well. You know...about him."

  Edeline gave him a nod, indicating she understood. She wasn't all that happy about it, but they deserved to know the truth about Kalvarel. Just as Anthyla deserved to know the truth about them as well.

  Including about Myron and Nela.

  "Guess I'd better go with him so I can be the one to tell Jelinia then," Nela added somberly.

  "I suppose we'd better inform the elders." Myron took a deep breath.

  "You can do that," Edeline told her brother, looking over at Lady Kelshir, "In the meantime, I think someone here could use a change of clothes..."