Luminous

121 - The Choice Again (1/3)

Once she had helped Meya cobble together a pain-relieving poultice for Dad, Arinel excused herself under the guise of helping the Baron prepare for his escape. Meya knew better, however. Finding no solace and instead more headache in Meya's company, Arinel had probably decided to seek out Lady Agnes instead.

Dad must've told Mum about Graye's offer while she was gone. Meya had seen Dad's contempt for it. She knew Mum wouldn't react any different, so she didn't waste any breath discussing the matter. Mum and Dad must've assumed she shared their apathy. They didn't bother bringing it up, either.

Like Arinel, Dad simply asked how Coris was doing. Meya obliged, but left out the part about Coris's contract. She had a hunch Dad wouldn't accept the gold if he learned who it came from.

At sunset, the innkeeper knocked on their door, delivering dinner alongside a message from Baron Hadrian. So, once they had supped, the Hilds trooped down the hallway to the Hadrian's quarters.

It wasn't just them this time. Sir Jarl, Philema, Tissa, Dorsea and Cleygar spun around as they entered. Behind them stood Baron Kellis at his desk by the window, hands clasped at his back, staring out at the evening town dotted with streetlamps like fireflies. The Baroness sat on the chair beside him, flanked by Ladies Arinel, Agnes and Persephia.

Kellis turned round, his blue eyes following Dad as Mum and Meya lowered him into the one spare chair set out specially for him, then left to sweep the throng.

"You may have heard. I've been removed from my seat on the Council," he said. Gasps, draining cheeks and bulging eyes from the audience proved him wrong. Kellis closed his eyes briefly, then tilted his head. "And you may have noticed the absence of some among our number."

At that, the marshal and the four Greeneyes glanced about the room. Kellis obligingly paused, then continued,

"In five days' time, my sons and I will depart on a perilous quest of utmost secrecy. I cannot promise when, perhaps even if, we shall return."

A chill gripped Meya as if a cold gale had rushed past. He lied to her? Just hours earlier he promised Coris would return. Now, he wouldn't even dare promise that anymore.

The Baron heaved a tortured sigh, his eyes on the floor as he nodded listlessly to himself.

"In the meantime, I will trust the seat of Hadrian to my sister Kyrel. And Sylvia will return to her kin in Noxx. You are all freed from my service. Lady Crosset will depart aftermorrow to see you all safely back to Hadrian."

Arinel straightened as all eyes pooled on her. Kellis took a few silent steps towards his freshly dismissed subjects, his voice lowered now,

"When Kyrel returns, she may seek you out for information on my whereabouts, my mission. You have the choice to remain in Hadrian, share with her all you've learned. Or, you may uproot your family, bring them with you to Crosset, where Kyrel cannot reach you."

Dorsea and Tissa shared nervous looks of disbelief. Philema gripped the bosom of her tunic, eyes wide and haunted by resurrected nightmares. Cleygar turned to the similarly dumbfounded Sir Jarl as if hoping for reassurance.

Meya, however, barely heard the words following aftermorrow. She gawked at Arinel, petrified with panic and fury.

What was the meaning of this? She'd had not the slightest whiff this was coming. Why leave? Why so soon? Aftermorrow? When Dad's leg was still paining him so badly? When he was a carriage ride away from the best healers in the land? When merchants from all corners of Latakia had just gathered with the rarest, most priced herbs and remedies?