Council of the Heir

Chapter Three - ruining everything

"You're leaving?" A soft voice interrupted Lydia from her stuffing a couple of necessities in a bag, and she looked up to find Grace standing in the doorway.

"Yeah." Lydia answered simply. "Not forever, I just want to see another place. I'm sure I'll be back within the week." Grace nodded, but she didn't look cheered.

"And you're not worried about...?"

"Steven says as long as I stick with him and Val that I'll be perfectly safe." Lydia assured her.

"Oh." Grace didn't meet her eyes. "Well- I hope you have a safe trip." She started turning around, and Lydia saw her hand lift to rub at her eyes.

"Hey. Gracie." Oh frick, that's not her name. It worked anyway, Grace paused and looked back at her. Lydia lifted her arms. "Can I have a hug?" Grace's face scrunched up, and she nodded, hurrying over to throw her arms around her friend. Lydia gave her a squeeze.

"I'll be back before you know it, promise." She patted her head.

"I'm holding you t' that." Grace's voice was slightly choked when she responded. Lydia just rested her chin on top of her head.

"Oh." She spoke up suddenly. "I have something to tell you. You gotta keep it a secret though, okay?" Grace sniffed, then loosened her grip, looking up at her.

"Mm?"

"Ok, so, Valor? He's a bit more than meets the eye..."

**

Valor really was hopeless around women.

Well, people in general, probably, Lydia surmised. But he seemed especially awkward around her and Grace, falling back onto what appeared to be meticulously rehearsed dialogue when engaging in small talk. Nether, did she make him this awkward? He was also grieving, she supposed. She'd give him a pass for now.

When they left, he became even quieter. Lydia let him sulk for a while, undoubtedly concerned about this stranger who stood a chance of finding out his secret- which she had already heard from Steven. And also already knew, obviously. Would he feel better if she just told him she knew...?

After about an hour of walking, Lydia decided to strike up a conversation to distract herself from her aching feet.

"So, Valor." She could see Steven tense up as soon as she addressed his nephew. "Steven told me that you're posing as his apprentice. What do you two do?"

"Steven takes care of the marketplace during the day, ensuring no crimes occur." Valor answered smoothly. "For now, I mainly just watch. My ability to discern when a situation is out of control is still being developed."

"I see." Lydia nodded. "And while you're doing that, you're trying to figure out who's killing people around town?" Valor dipped his chin in a nod.

"Exactly. Last night I was able to obtain some clues - or, we hope they're clues. For the most part, all we have is an odd signature." He explained. Lydia paused to wonder exactly how Null had set up this trap. How did he know that 'Herobrine' would find the signature and follow them to the mines? Did he know that Valor would go to the lord's manor and steal his letters? Was that standard Herobrine M.O.? Why was she asking these questions, she wrote the book!!

"Huh." She paused, wondering what she could say that would be appropriate but didn't spoil anything. "So what next? Look around town for anything else with the signature?" They were going to do that anyway, right?

"I suppose."

"I spoke 'ta my sister 'bout the content of the foreign letters." Steven spoke up from ahead of them. "She speaks th' language. But there was no information there, jus' friendly messages."