The Wyvern's Gift

Chapter Two

It had been decided that each member would be allowed to return home to gather any essential belongings they may need. Of course there would be heavy supervision. Evanora would be under the harshest scrutiny of them all. She was their second stop after Wren's gear had been returned to him.

"Someone will need to help, I can't reach most of the shelves," Evanora admitted. "But if it could be the least clumsy of you lot, I'd appreciate that." She glanced Haelyn up and down. "Not you."

"I've got you," Weylyn said. He followed her and a guard inside, leaving the others to wait in the hall.

"Who's home is next?" Haelyn asked.

"I would assume yours, since our ranger friend lives with the trees and Weylyn won't lead anyone back to his hideout," the man, Evander guessed.

"What about your home?" Yophiel asked.

"If you recall, one of your ships fired a cannon through my hull and sank my home," Evander snapped. "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop bringing it up so often."

"I've only mentioned it once," Yophiel sputtered.

"Mentioned what?" Haelyn asked, biting her lower lip hard.

"That his ships sank."

"You just mentioned it again! Insensitive bastard," Evander cried.

Wren slowly pulled his cloak hood over his head and down his face. "I think I almost prefer imprisonment for life to this." He managed a few deep breaths while they bickered. When the door to the room opened he was the first to head for the stairs.

"If I'm next, then we have a bit of a walk. I live out by the east wall," Haelyn told them. There were a few groans, mostly from Evanora. "I could always go alone."

"Not a chance," Yophiel said.

"Man gets a crest and suddenly he thinks he's the best thing to grace the earth," Weylyn muttered.

They followed Haelyn through the twisting city streets. To say people noticed them would be an understatement. Evanora was enough to draw attention, most of the capital knew of the court mage that had broken the law. There were even a few who recognized her from when they'd both been young.

"This is absolutely mortifying," Evanora whispered.

"Well I am having a lovely time," Weylyn said. He'd spent their walk making eyes at every woman they had passed. Their husbands had not been amused and so Yophiel spent the walk shouting out apologies and trying to reign in Weylyn.

Wren finally grabbed Weylyn by the collar and shoved him to walk ahead by Haelyn. "Stop making a fool of yourself."

Now at the front together, Haelyn and Weylyn leaned in towards each other to talk in soft whispers. "That's me up ahead," Haelyn called back. She pointed out a two story house painted a faded purple. The front door had been kicked in, leaving the house exposed to anything that could fit between the boarded up entrance. "How am I meant to get inside?"

"I brought a crowbar," Yophiel said. He made quick work with the boards, even moving them to the side to give Haelyn an easy path in. "After you." He held his hand out to escort her. At the same time, an angry saleswoman began shouting at the passing crowd. They turned to look and Weylyn tossed a bitten red apple at Yophiel. He caught it without thinking and the woman's anger focused on him.

"I'll just run in and grab my things while you deal with that," Haelyn said. She nodded to Weylyn on her way inside.

While she rummaged around, Yophiel did his best to talk the woman down from calling the guards. He had a hell of a time convincing her that he outranked the guards. In the end, he had to pay her double the price of the apple to keep her quiet. She left them in peace, counting her coins with a wide grin.

"Well done, a truly admirable effort," Weyyn commended him. He held his hand out for the apple.

"You think you get to have this after that stunt you pulled?" Yophiel scoffed. He broke off half of the apple and shoved the bitten half into his own mouth. The other half he offered to Haelyn when she stepped out.

"Oh, thank you," she thanked him. A large basket was on her back, held in place like a pack by two leather straps over her shoulders. The opening of the basket was covered by a thick piece of leather. It closed at the front along a center slit, closed with small black cords. She'd taken the time to change as well and pull on a thicker dark green cloak.

"That just leaves me," Yophiel sighed. "Mother is going to give you such a talking to." He looked down at Evanora.

"I think I can handle my younger sister," she muttered.

"Are you two related or something?" Evander asked.

"She is my aunt," Yophiel answered.

Now walking between Wren and the other three, Weylyn and Haelyn had devolved to arguing quietly. He kept holding his hand out at her expectantly while she waved him off. He finally stopped her, slamming his hand against a wall to bar her way forward.

Wren tensed, hand on the knife on his belt.

Haelyn rolled her eyes and shoved the last of her apple half into his mouth. "Not here," she whispered. She glanced at Wren behind them and nodded quickly. Then, she ducked under Weylyn's outstretched arm and hurried to catch up to the others.

Both men followed, eash eyeing the other wearily. "Are you going to talk about it?" Wren asked.

"She asked me not to," he replied.

"And you're suddenly an upstanding citizen who cares about protecting secrets?" Wren scoffed.

"For the right price, I am," he informed him before catching up with the group waiting outside the cozy wooden home.

An older woman stood in the doorway staring down at Evanora. Their faces were nearly a match, though one was significantly older. Even the look in their hazel eyes was identical, right down to the way the right brow furrowed lower than the left.

"Just say it, Shena," Evanora snapped.

"Somebody sounds grumpy. Time for a snack?" Shena asked, dissolving into a fit of giggles after. "Look at you! Eva you look ridiculous."

"At least I don't have wrinkles," Evanora shot back.

"Don't disrespect your elders, you're not too big to put over my knee young lady," Shena warned, completely unbothered by the insult. There was a calm in her eyes that Evanora lacked. Even the way she leaned against the doorframe gave her an air of someone unshakable.

"Alright, that's everything mom," Yophiel said as he walked up behind her. He'd switched his glimmering white knight's cloak for a sturdier gray one. The uniform too had been switched to something more travel-worn.

"Alright, be safe." His mother reached out to do a final adjustment of his clothes.

"Mother," he warned, pushing her hands away. "I'll be fine, I'm a knight."

"Just tell her you'll be safe and let's be on our way," Evanora instructed. "We have a two day journey and we're already missing a full night because you won't leave the city tonight."

"I don't exactly want to introduce any of you to the forest at night either," Wren piped up from the back. "You'll be dead in minutes."

"It's not that dangerous, is it?" Shena asked nervously. Her hand locked on Yophiel's forearm like a clamp.

"Don't worry, he'll come home Shena," Evanora promised. She held her right hand up with the other over her heart. The fingers of her right hand glowed orange and Shena's fingers on the same hand did the same. "I will not let Yophiel die on this quest."

"Better not," Shena warned. She snapped her fingers and the glow disappeared from both their hands. "And don't you die either. It's depressing for everyone when they have to carry a child sized casket around."