Downstairs, Fjalda, Eliza, Kellen, Enialis, Soren Mitharias, and Catherine Mitharias lined the bar, some sitting, some standing. Carter Hawkspire, Fjalda's father, stood behind the bar, speaking to Lara Arkerys, the town's apothecary and Regis Elias, Marialena's uncle and guardian. Into the midst of the packed room, Reynar Kyrgan appeared from the back door, prompting a flurry of questions until he raised his hand. "Lara, can I see you and Regis upstairs please?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUT4m2Z0ac
"Kellen?" Eliza's voice broke into the relative silence as the trio of adults headed to the second floor. "What are Azarians?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1vKOabUcx
"Bad, bad people." The hulking young man answered, putting his head on the table as if he was ready to pass out on it. "How is she, Vik?" Fjalda piped up, her eyes fixed on him and flickering with the light of the fireplace as he slid into the only empty barstool between her and Eliza. 285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlLBoQtXX7
"Weak. I hope they can help her."
Fjalda pursed her lips, sliding him a mug of steaming, mulled wine, which he began to sip on, staring at the beaten wood of the bar. Don't take her from us. If she dies... The alabaster-haired young woman sighed and took Eliza in her arms as she began to sob uncontrollably. A mug appeared just above Viktor's eye-line and he looked up to meet the cloudy gaze of Fjalda's father. "Lara will look after her. She will live on yet. As long as the gods will it," The older Hawkspire shook his head and his salt-and-pepper curls shook out with it until he trained his eyes on Viktor once again.
"There's a lot you don't know. A lot which you should ..." he trailed off as Reynar rounded the bar and joined him. What are they, the same person now?285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIURXZtK9sb
The two men's eyes met for a moment and the latter spoke, "Carter's right my boy. I'd like to tell you we never expected the Azarians to come here but that would be a lie."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGffKxXz4kX
He took a draught directly from a wine bottle lining the shelf behind the bar. "Remember, your father was a Northerner like me. Straight out of Palton Drevon?" Viktor nodded. Where is he going with this? I have known where I come from since I was a small boy. My father was a soldier like Reynar, nothing more. But there's the mark. Another voice spoke in his mind. His, but more frantic. The mark makes you different. The mark makes you an outsider.
"We've kept something from you." Reynar took another swig from the wine bottle. 285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDe0GkYvAKL
The mark.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZwbiF8dFe
"For your safety," Carter added, glancing at Fjalda, who had now turned her attention entirely to their conversation. "They want to kill us because one day, we could do magic," Viktor blurted out. "Not exactly," Reynar shook his head. "More complicated," Carter added. They're really in sync tonight. This has to be bad.
"Then what?"
"Every one of you. Mari, Eliza, Fjalda, you, Kellen, and even Enialis are of the royal Northern line. The Hiervalan." 285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkDA8kSwjX
That can't be. Us? Royal? That's nonsense.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcFMCH6Msr
What he said, however, was, "why didn't you tell us before?" in a serene tone. "We wanted to protect you. I'm sorry Viktor. Saying this now, makes me feel like I have failed you but you have to understand. Your father wanted it kept from you. He asked me to do it. The same for the others." He motioned around the room, pointing out each one of Viktor's friends. Except for Mari. Light above, don't take her from us.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9wUoBYM7R
"Why does our bloodline matter to these Azarians?"Viktor spat out the last word like a rotten piece of meat.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ49WhRz10
"Because it threatens all that they stand for," Reynar said, then clapped a hand on his shoulder, leaning in so close that Viktor felt as if his uncle meant to whisper in his ear. "They have come here once. They will come again and next time, it'll be worse for you. You need to leave. Go to Foxmoor and ask for Lady Solara Noriaki at the Vintner's Folly. She's an old friend."
"Uncle Reynar, you're talking crazy. Why would we leave Silverwood? All our families and friends are here. If there's trouble, can't we all face it together?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkGfdA9q5c
"Listen to me," Reynar said through his teeth and his eyes seemed to bore into Viktor, who bobbed his head swiftly, looking at the floor. "Go to Foxmoor. Ask for Lady Noriaki. Tell her the raven has flown." He raised a hand as Fjalda's mouth opened. "She will know what to do and how to help you from there." 285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng1mKq2ItM
So you'll stay here and hold them off? He thought, but, again, what he said was entirely different. "What about Mari?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG8NUVEn5g
"You will have to take her with you," Fjalda's father cut in, raking his hands through his hair, spinning his head up to the ceiling, then back down to fix his eyes on his daughter. "And Fjalda?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NQrzbzsH1
"Yes, father?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvNSzGi7qX
"I need to speak to you for a moment. Alone." Viktor frowned and watched his uncle follow suit. "It won't take but a moment," the vineyard owner beckoned Fjalda to follow him to the other side of the room near the stairs, where he began speaking to her in a low enough tone that Viktor couldn't make out what he said. Why would him speaking privately to Fjalda bother Uncle Reynar? The more they spoke, the more frantic both Fjalda and her father became with the former shaking her head again and again while the latter began to use his hands more and more until he had worked himself into a frenzy. "Viktor," Reynar's gravelly voice broke his concentration and he turned back to his uncle, his face considerably crimson. "After you meet with Solara Noriaki, she and others," he took a deep draught from his mug, "will start to tell you things. Things about your lineage. When that happens, remember I did what I had to do."
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