As Oreon's story concluded, the forest fell silent, the only sound the gentle rustling of leaves. Even the birds seem to pause their songs out of respect for Oreon's grief. Celestia's eyes shine with unshed tears, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Sylvanie's expression has transformed from suspicion to something more complex—a reluctant understanding mingled with her ever-present anger.
"So, you returned," Celestia said softly, "to steal the shard from your father. For Vengeance?"
"It's not entirely vengeance, at least I don't think it is." Oreon pondered for a second. "Watching what my father did back then does play a huge part in it, but he also has to be stopped, or else everybody in this region is going to repeat the same cycle." Oreon finished as he looked back up at the elves.
With a hesitant step, Sylvanie moved closer, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly, but her lips still pressed into a thin line. "Your mother sounds like she was a remarkable woman," she offers, her voice an indistinct murmur that held the weight of unspoken sympathy. "As for your sister." With a sharp shake of her head, as if dislodging a swarm of buzzing thoughts, she tried to regain her composure. She crouched down. Their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them in the quiet stillness.
"Look, I'm not sorry for stabbing you," she stated, the words sharp as the blade itself. "But… perhaps I was too hasty in my judgment."
"You won't apologize for stabbing me?" Oreon comments with a blank look on his face. "You almost killed me, you crazy elf!" Oreon screamed at her.
"Well, you didn't die, did you?" Sylvanie replies. "Besides, it's your fault for being that bastard's son!" The blame was thrust upon Oreon with a fierce jab of her finger.
"How the hell is that my fault? It's not like I prayed to the gods and begged for that man to be my father!" Oreon exclaimed.
Sylvanie scoffed and crossed her arms at the bickering. "Hmph, excuses." She ended.
As the two bickered, Celestia couldn't help but give a faint sigh of relief, the tension in the air palpable. "The Holy Order has taken so much from all of us," she says." Your family, our kingdom…and now they seek a power that could destroy everything." She took a deep breath once again.
"Or everything non-human." Sylvanie retorts.
"We share a common enemy, Celestia continues thoughtfully. "And perhaps a common purpose."
Sylvanie stands abruptly, pacing a few steps away before turning back.
"So, you want us to help you get revenge on your father," she states, not a question but an observation. "And that's why you freed us." She added, obviously misreading the entire story.
"I don't think that's what he said at all." Celestia counters gently.
"That's definitely not what I said," Oreon added.
Sylvanie makes a dismissive gesture. "It doesn't matter what he said. What matters is what we do now." She fixes Oreon with her piercing crimson gaze. "The Holy Order will hunt all three of us. They want the shard, they want their precious escaped slaves, and they want the head of the thief who helped us escape."
"I am not a thief." Oreon raises his hand slightly, as if he were in a classroom.
"Silence! You are what I call you!" Sylvanie spat back.
"Yes, Ma'am." Oreon comically puts his hand down as quickly as he raised it.
Celestia rises gracefully to her feet, extending a hand to help Oreon, who stumbles slightly as he accepts it. "Whatever path you choose, Oreon," she said, her voice echoing with the regal formality of her upbringing, each word precise and measured. "I believe our fates are now intertwined."
"For better or worse," Sylvanie said, her hand resting on the worn leather of her sword hilt, a sardonic half-smile twisting her lips. "For better or worse," she repeats, a subtle smile playing on her lips as she takes in Oreon's features, a sense of intrigue replacing her initial apprehension. "Though I'm not convinced this whole team-up thing won't get us all killed."
"Not if you keep going around stabbing people," Oreon grumbled, slightly catching the ear of Sylvanie.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that." She reacted swiftly and aggressively, her hand tightening on the hilt of her stolen sword.
"Nothing, nothing; I didn't say anything." Oreon quickly waved his hands defensively, not wanting to feel the sword enter his body once again.
Another sigh, heavy with exasperation, escapes Celestia's lips as she watches her sister's antics."The wound will need time to fully heal," she advised her medical assessment professional, despite the circumstances. "I've done what I can, but my powers are limited without proper rest and preparation."
The sound of a faraway horn, reedy and thin, drifted through the trees, breaking the silence of the woods. "We should move," Sylvanie said sharply, her keen ears picking up the sound. "That's an Order Patrol horn. "They're sweeping the forest."
Celestia nods, her expression resolute despite her exhaustion. "Which way?" she asked, turning to Oreon. "This is your land, not ours." She finished as both sisters looked at him, as Oreon quickly stepped to the side, his eyes facing the direction that they should go in.
"Let's keep going east. There's a small town not too far away from here." Instructing as he moved, Oreon's breath hitched with each step, his injured side a constant, throbbing reminder of his caution. "If we're going to recover from anything that we've been through, then we're going to need somewhere to stay, and a town is the best thing right now…Besides." Oreon turned to look at the two elves behind him, his eyes slightly narrowing at them. "You two need better clothes." He quickly turned his head as he continued forward.
Sylvanie glances down at her tattered slave garments with obvious disgust, then at Celestia's equally disheveled appearance. "He's not wrong," she muttered, tugging at the frayed hem of her dress. "
Celestia nods in agreement. "A fair point indeed," she admits, tugging futilely at a torn sleeve. "Proper clothing would indeed be…Prudent."
Sylvanie snorts, striding ahead with a predatory grace. The horn sounds again in the distance, closer this time. "What I wouldn't give for my old armor," she brings up as one hand hovers near the hilt of her stolen sword. "Or even a decent cloak."
As Sylvanie examined the rips and stains on her clothes, a mischievous smirk tugged at her lips. The tattered slave garments they both wear barely cover their bodies, revealing almost everything. "You know, I wonder if you've held that thought since you first laid eyes on us. Have you been staring human?"
"What?" Oreon quickly turned his head towards them, only to realize he was caught in Sylvanie's trap. As he quickly turned his head away, he blushed slightly. "I'm not staring, I'm just saying we don't want to make the town's people uncomfortable or…
"Oh, I'm definitely not opposed to making some of these humans…Uncomfortable." Sylvanie replied as Celestia gave her sister a reproachful glance before adjusting what was left of her tattered garment.
"Sylvanie, please stop teasing him," Celestia suggested. "However, I could use a proper bath and shelter at least for the night."
"I second that, sister," Sylvanie replied as the trio continued to walk.
A few moments pass as Sylvanie watches Oreon's careful movements with a critical eye, then wordlessly steps to his side, offering her shoulder as support. When he glances at her in surprise, she merely shrugs.
"Don't misunderstand," she muttered. "If you collapse, we'll have to carry you, and I'm not in the mood for that."
Despite her exhaustion, Celestia follows closely behind, her light steps barely disturbing the stillness of the forest. Walking along, she gathered some herbs, tucking them into a tiny pouch fashioned from a scrap of material.
"So, you never answered our question." She speaks quietly. "This town, will it be safe for us? Two elves aren't exactly inconspicuous in human settlements these days."
"You don't have to worry," Oreon states, glancing over at Celestia before returning his eyesight forward. "The town's name is Haven's Crest." Oreon began. "It's a refugee town. It isn't anything special, more like something the people who have been affected by the order put together to give them some semblance of peace." Oreon answered her as he glanced back at her once again. "So don't worry, nothing is going to happen to you two. We get there, we'll rest up for a few days and restock on supplies and figure out what our next steps are," Oreon stated, still leaning against Sylvanie's shoulder for support.
"A few days?" Sylvanie retorted, her eyes glancing over at Oreon as she held him up. "You're getting mighty comfortable quick, aren't you, human?" The words hung in the air, sharp and accusatory.
"I was just suggesting that maybe a few good nights of sleep in an actual bed would do wonders for all of us." Oreon grimaced as another sharp ache ran through his body.
"Wonders, huh?" Sylvanie repeated as she glanced down at him a bit. "You hear that, sister? The human wonders about good nights of sleep with Elven bodies," Sylvanie smirked as Oreon glanced over at her wide wide-eyed.
"Could you stop! That's not what I meant, and you know it!" Oreon yelled back at her.
"Sylvanie, please..." Celestia chided as she walked by Oreon's exposed side.
As they walk, the forest gradually thins as the trio moves eastward. The dense canopy gives way to scattered trees, eventually revealing the first signs of farmland on the horizon. The twilight sunlight bathes the grass in a warm, golden glow.
"We should cover our ears," Sylvanie suggested pragmatically. "Find hoods or scarves. My eyes will be harder to explain away, but in a busy market, people might not look too closely." She adjusts her grip on Oreon's arm, her strength surprising as she helps him navigate a steep section of the path. The wound in his abdomen throbs with each step. But Celestia's healing has done enough to keep him moving.
"There's an inn at the edge of town," Oreon explained between careful breaths. "We just have to make it there before the order catches up to us."
Celestia looks over at Oreon and moves closer. "Your wound is seeping again," she observes. "We should rest before continuing."
Sylvanie shakes her head firmly. "No time. Those horns are getting closer.' Her crimson eyes scan the thinning tree line. "Better to reach this inn of yours with bloodstained clothes than be caught in the open."
As they emerge from the forest's edge, the small town of Haven's Crest comes into view. Faint smoke appeared from the chimneys, and people were turning in for the night. "Good, it doesn't look like there are that many people out," Oreon acknowledged. "This may work out better than we thought." He stated.
As they approached, the travelers felt the inn's comforting warmth embrace them, thick with the rich scents of roasting meat, spilled ale, and the lingering sweetness of pipe smoke. The three stepped inside, the noise level dropping noticeably as curious glances turned their way; a hush fell over the room, broken only by the soft murmur of hushed conversations. Sylvanie instinctively shifts closer to Oreon, her muscles bunching, a low hum of tension vibrating in the air, while Celestia pulls her ragged cloak tighter, her pointed ears barely visible beneath the worn fabric.
"Stay close," Oreon whispers to them as they approach the counter.
The woman behind the counter looks up, her weathered face framed by thick auburn hair streaked with gray, her eyes holding a hint of weariness. Her body appeared to be that of an elderly lady, but her slightly muscular arms betrayed any thought that she was defenseless. She paused mid-wipe as her eyes locked onto Oreon's face, recognition dawning in her expression, as a weary expression transformed with urgency as she recognized who was in front of her.
"By the old gods," she breathed, settling down her cloth. "Little Oreon."
She rounds the counter with surprising speed for someone of her stature, approaching the trio with a mixture of disbelief and concern. Her gaze quickly takes in Oreon's bloodstained clothing and the two Elven women at his sides. "Mira…" He breathed her name.
Without waiting for an explanation, she calls over her shoulder to a young woman stacking mugs behind the bar.
"Lena, watch the bar," she commanded, then turned back to them." Follow me. Now."
Mira leads the trio through a door behind the counter and up a narrow staircase, moving with surprising agility for a woman of her size and age. The sisters follow closely, Sylvaine's hand still hovering near her weapon, Celestia's eyes darting nervously to the windows as they pass them.
The staircase opens into a small but tidy living quarter-clearly Mira's private rooms above the inn. She closes the door firmly behind them, slides a heavy bolt into place, and turns to face the group.
"Sit before you fall," she ordered, pointing to a chair. "And you two- "She eyes the Elven sisters with a mixture of wariness and curiosity," -You're in more trouble than he is, I'd wager."
Sylvaine steps protectively in front of Celestia, her posture defensive.
"We mean no harm," Celestia said softly from behind her sister. But Mira goes back to look at Oreon.
"Aye, I know you don't," Mira began eyeing Oreon's wounds, causing silence to fall in the room as she breathed deeply. "Look at you, you're hurt, not to mention you're as white as a ghost. Just what on Earth were you doing out there? It looks like someone tried to gut you like a fish." Her words hung in the air as Oreon's strange, nervous chuckle filled the space, while Sylvanie and Celestia shifted uncomfortably, their averted gazes betraying their guilt over what had happened before they entered the inn.
"Well…" Oreon looked to the side, trying to avoid Mira's gaze. "A lot has happened within the past few hours."
"I thought death had finally caught up to you, boy," she said, her back turned to the three as she began rummaging through a large trunk that sat to the side. "News of the two escaped slaves entered the town not even moments before you arrived. Alaric's men were everywhere, asking questions, searching."
She rises, arms full of clean clothing, and turns to face the trio.
"And now you show up at my door with two Elven women- and not just any Elves." Her gaze fixes on Celestia. "I may be just an innkeeper now, but I wasn't always. I recognize the royal features of the Velyrian line when I see them.
Sylvanie tenses, her hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of her sword, but Celestia places a gentle hand on her sister's arm.
"You have nothing to fear from me," Mira continued, setting the clothing on the table. "Any friend of Leona's is a friend of mine. And any enemy of Alaric's is doubly welcome."
She moves to a cabinet, retrieving bandages and a small pot of Salve. "Now, let me see that wound, boy. I can smell the blood from here."
As she begins to tend to Oreon's wound with practiced hands, Mira continues speaking in a low voice. "The order's been through here twice already. They're looking for escaped slaves-Valuable ones, they said. Offering a reward that would tempt even the most honorable folk."
"I figured word would get out," Oreon grunted as Mira bandaged his midsection. "But I didn't think it would spread this fast. I guess I pissed my old man off more than I thought." He looks up at Mira. "Hey Mira, do you still have my old room here? We need some rest and time to restock. We won't be any longer than a few days." Oreon said as Mira lifts her head to look up at him and nods her head as she finishes tightening the bandage around his abdomen with practiced efficiency, her callous hands gentle despite their strength. She gives a short, humorous laugh at his question.
"Your old room? Been keeping it just as you left it. Though I've dusted it occasionally." She said with a hint of sarcasm. "Few travelers these days, what with the Order's patrols making everyone nervous." She straightens up, wincing slightly as her knees crack, and gathers the bloodied cloths.
"It's the one at the end of the hall upstairs, with its own exit to the alley. Safer that way. But it's only got one bed. It's big enough for the three of you, but." She added, glancing at Celestia and Sylvanie. "I can prepare another room for the ladies."
Sylvanie, who has been standing tensely by the window, peering through a crack in the curtains, turns around.
"No, we stay together," she firmly states. "Safer that way."
Celestia nods in agreement, though her exhaustion is clear in the slump of her shoulders and the dark circles under her eyes. "Very well," Mira concedes. "I'll have blankets and food brought up."
Mira moves to a small basin, washing her hands of Oreon's blood before turning back to face the trio. "You should know," she said in a lower voice. "Your father's second in command was here personally recently. Vance, I believe his name is. Cold-eyed bastard with a scar across his throat."
"Great, so the old man asked for his help to clean up his mess for him. "Oreon sighed, leaning back against the chair that Mira had him sitting in. "First the paladins, now this." He lowered his head. "It's only been a few hours, can we at least catch a break?"
Celestia visibly stiffens at the name, her fingers clutching the edge of the table. Sylvanie moves closer to her sister, a protective gesture that doesn't escape Mira's notice. "I see you're acquainted," Mira observes grimly. "He had a dozen Order soldiers with him, asking questions, showing sketches. Crude drawings, but recognizable enough.
"I see," Celestia comments. "Thank you for…everything. Your kindness will not be forgotten." She said, her voice carrying the natural authority of someone born to rule. "When this is over…."
"Save your royal promises," Mira interrupted, though not unkindly. "I'm not doing this for future favors. I'm doing it because I don't want to see Leona in my dreams at night, threatening me to death because I turned her boy away. Besides, it's not in my nature not to lend in hand to others in need." Mira finishes as Sylvanie, who has been unusually quiet, finally speaks.
"Has Vance been back since his first visit?" She asked, her tone deceptively casual as she examined the clothing Mira Provided. "And are they stationed nearby?"
Mira gives her a shrewd look, clearly recognizing the strategic nature of the question.
"Out of the two times that I've mentioned. No, albeit he's probably searching the outskirts of the town right now. "Mira answers. "They've established a garrison about half a day's ride north. Twenty men, maybe thirty. They say they'll rotate through town every few days, supposedly for "Protection." She does not hide her contempt. "But after what happened in the eleven territories, everyone knows what their protection is worth.
"Great, they figure we couldn't go far since this is the first town closest to my father's mansion." Oreon gritted his teeth at the thought. "There were only a few directions we could go. Guess they figure this would make the most sense." He finished as Mira made her way to the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of amber liquid and four cups.
Once she pours the liquid into each cup, before one to each of the trio, leaving one for herself. "Drink." She instructs. "It'll help with the pain and settle your nerves."
Celestia accepts hers with a gracious nod, while Sylvanie sniffs the liquid suspiciously before taking a cautious sip. Her eyebrows rose slightly in appreciation.
"Not bad for a human." She concedes.
"Right!" Mira states as both she and Oreon drink their portion with no hesitation. "I distilled it myself. Recipe from an old Elven friend."
"She makes the best drinks in town," Oreon spoke up, smiling as he took another gulp of his drink. "She has drinks for all kinds of ailments, regardless of what the issue is, it always seems to put the person at ease, not to mention they always hit the spot." He complimented her as Mira playfully waved a dismissive hand towards him.
"The best drinks in town." Mira gives a hearty laugh. "Always with the compliments with this one."
A loud sigh escapes her lips as she looks at Oreon. "There's a washroom that connects to the bedroom. You three should get washed up…. Separately, of course," she eyes Oreon, who gives her a shocked look.
"Wha…?" Oreon returned the gaze, tilting his head. "Why are you looking at me like that? I wasn't going to—"
"You're a growing boy, Oreon. It's not uncommon for a boy to see a woman's body without its garments." Mira crossed her arms as Sylvanie took this as an opportunity to be mischievous.
"Oh, don't we know; on the way here, He commented on our garments. I wonder how long he's been looking at our bodies." Sylvanie smirked as Oreon quickly raised his hands in defense, waving them comically.
"Woah, Woah, hold on, I was just merely making an observation." Oreon defended.
"You were eying our bodies." Sylvanie's smirk widened.
"I was not!" Oreon combated. "I was merely suggesting that your current attire was not suited for traveling and going against the order!" He turned his head to Celestia. "Come on, Celestia, tell them. Tell them I wasn't having intrusive thoughts." He pointed at Mira and Sylvanie, who slowly turned their heads towards Celestia.
However, a mischievous smirk appeared on Celestia's face as she turned her head away from Oreon, as if appalled by the accusations. "If I remember correctly, I noticed your eyes wandering a bit too much every time you looked at us." She turned her head back towards Oreon, showing him the light smirk on her face. "Shame on you,"
Oreon's eyes nearly jumped out of his head at the slight betrayal he felt as he just slumped his shoulders. "I can never win… "He sighed as the room rolled in a gentle laughter from the three women that surrounded him as Mira stood up.
"It's great to have you back, Oreon." She said her expression softens with maternal concern. "You should know, your father's reach has grown since you've been gone. The order's influence spreads like a disease. Whatever you're planning- and I don't want to know what that is- you'll need more than just courage and a pair of elves." She started as she turned her back and made her way towards the door, but not before turning her head back to look at him once more. "Your mother and sister would be proud," she let out. "Worried, but proud." She ended as she left the room, leaving Oreon to eye her back as she left the room before lowering his head with a sigh of his own, the thought of his Alice and Leona entering his mind.
The trio all climb the narrow staircase at the back of the inn. Sylvanie keeps close to her sister, one arm supporting Celestia's increasingly unsteady steps. The toll of her healing magic, combined with the stress of escape and travel, is wearing on the former Elven Queen.
Reaching the room, the three of them were surprised by its spaciousness, high ceilings, and the fading sunlight streaming through the large windows. There's a single enormous bed, as Mira said, more than spacious enough for three to share. A plush velvet sofa and some worn wooden chairs were arranged around a small, round table. The window seat was spacious enough for one, and a soft cushion promised comfortable lounging. The room was spotless, not a speck of dust visible, a stark contrast to Mira's earlier sarcastic demeanor. Additionally, it had two doors for entry, one for the washroom and the other leading to the alley.
"Well, we got a roof over our head, even if it's for a day or two…" Oreon walked slowly to the window seat, the soft cushions yielding beneath him as he leaned back against the cool wall, gazing out the window and speaking quietly. "I'm hoping we can stretch it to two and then leave."
The room bathes in the gentle amber glow of oil lamps as night settles outside the window. Celestia immediately moves to draw the heavy curtains across the large window, her movements graceful despite her exhaustion. The thick fabric blocks out the fading daylight, creating a cocoon of privacy that allows all the trio to relax slightly for the first time since their escape.
Sylvanie circles the room with predatory wariness, checking the lock on the door leading outside, testing the floorboards for creaks, and examining every corner as if expecting hidden dangers. Satisfied with her inspection, she finally sank into the plush cushions of the sofa, stretching her long legs out before her, her feet dangling over the armrest, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips.
"Two days," She repeats, considering Oreon's words. "That's pushing our luck, but…" She glances down at her tattered slave garments with disgust. "We do need supplies and information." She slowly turns her head to the two as she speaks about what she found.
"The window opens onto an alley, just like the door." She reports, "Narrow, but navigable. Good escape route if needed." She gets up to test the floorboards near the bed, finding one that creaks. "This place has seen better days, but it's defensible."
"It's not a fortress, you know, it's just a bedroom." Oreon looked over at her.
Sylvaine glanced at him. "We need to make sure we understand our surroundings," She started. "We're in unfamiliar territory and the Order is making their rounds, we can't take any chances, however…" She lowered her ears slightly as she caught sight of Oreon's bandaged stomach. "I vote we stay the two full days," she said unexpectedly, causing both Oreon and Celestia to give her a quizzical look in response.
"Look, you're in no condition to travel, and we need proper clothing, supplies." She gestures to the tattered slave garments she is still wearing. "We look like what we are- escaped property. We won't make it a league beyond town borders looking like this."
"I agree with Sylvanie," she said softly. "Though I never thought I'd hear myself say those words." A ghost of a smile touches her lips. "We need time to recover our strength. All of us."
Her gaze drifts towards Oreon, concern evident in her eyes. "That wound needs proper healing. My magic can only do so much without rest and preparation." She hesitated, then added. "And we need to discuss what happens after we leave here. What our plan is." She finishes as she moves to the washroom door, peering inside with undisguised longing at the large wooden tub. "A bath," she murmured, almost reverently. "It's been so long since I've been truly clean." She turns back to the room, an almost childlike hope in her eyes at the prospect of washing away days of grime and fear. "Would you mind terribly if I…?"
"I don't mind." Oreon sat with his arms lightly crossed on the seat cushion, as Sylvanie waved her hand dismissively,
"Go ahead. I'll keep watch," she said, moving to position herself near the window where Oreon is seated. She settles into a chair, angling it to see both the door and Oreon.
"You can relax to you know?" Oreon pointed out, closing his eyes for a moment. "Nothing is going to happen right now, it's best to let the tension go for a bit." He opened one eye a slit, giving her a sideways glance as he spoke his piece of advice.
"You think I'm going to drop my guard just because we have a roof over our head now?" Sylvanie turned, slightly glaring at Oreon. "What a truly naïve human you are."
"You're going to run yourself into exhaustion," Oreon told her. "Look at yourself, you're no better than she is, and that's not helpful to anybody. Besides," Oreon turned slightly to her. "If you've forgotten you held me up to a tree and stabbed me, what could I possibly do to either of you in the condition I'm in?" Oreon pointed out as Sylvanie looked at him for a second before directing her attention towards the door.
"It doesn't matter; I'm still keeping watch." Sylvanie retorted with a light scoff, slightly glancing back over at Oreon. "And you heard your friend. The Order is searching for us, I'm not letting my guard down just because you say it's ok." She finished as Celestia gathered the clean clothes Mira provided for her- a simple dress of muted green that would help disguise her Elven elegance and disappear into the washroom, closing the door behind her.
Soon, the soft sounds of splashing water can be heard.
Several minutes of tense silence took over the room as Sylvanie's crimson eyes fixed on the window that Oreon was sitting beside as she slowly got up and walked towards it, standing close to him as she peeked out to watch the people of the town below.
"You took a significant risk for us." She observes. "I'm still not entirely convinced of your motives." She slightly turned her gaze to him, her expression unreadable. "My sister believes the best in people. I don't have that luxury." Her fingers slightly gripped the curtains as she turned her head towards the street again.
The sound of the calm splash of water can still be heard as Celestia continues to take her time washing herself as the two sit outside in the room, staring at the same thing.
"I can only imagine." Oreon began, his eyes slightly narrowing. "The horror stories I've heard don't hold to candle to what he's actually done…"He paused. "Besides, I, too, know firsthand how cruel he can be."
Oreon took a deep breath before returning his gaze out the slit of the window. "I know it's not much, but I can't apologize enough for the trouble my father has caused, not just to you and your sister, but to the different races out there." Sylvanie remained quiet as she lightly crossed her arms, as Oreon continued to speak. "The fear on people's faces when the sound of my father's name is mentioned. How quickly people flee when they know the Holy Order is breathing down their necks. It's all horrible, everyone is living under my father's heel, threatened to be crushed without a second thought."
Another sigh escaped Oreon as he continued to watch the scene in front of him. "You may not trust my motives," He glances over at Sylvanie before returning his eyes to the street. "But I never asked you two to come with me, I was prepared to face my father on my own if I had to." He added.
Sylvanie's expression shifts subtly as she listens, her crimson eyes studying Oreon's face with an intensity that feels almost invasive. The soft splashing from the washroom creates a gentle backdrop to the weight of Oreon's words.
"Your father," She repeats, testing the word. "Alaric the Righteous. The Purifier. The Order's Divine Hand. The Holy Butcher." Her voice drips with venom on each title. "The man who burned our home and slaughtered our people while claiming divine purpose."
She leans forward slightly, her gaze never leaving Oreon's face.
"And yet we have his son, risking everything and even freeing two elven slaves-royal ones, at that." A hint of bitter amusement crosses her features. "The poets would love such irony."
She falls silent for a moment, then speaks again, her voice softer but no less intense. "Celestia would tell you that revenge is a poison that kills the vessel that carries it. She'd speak of forgiveness and moving forward. "A bitter smile touches her lips. "But I watched our people being slaughtered. I saw my sister, A queen, collared like an animal."
Her fingers unconsciously touched her neck where the slave collar's marks were still visible. "Fifty. I killed Fifty of your father's men before they took me." She breathed. "And it was nowhere near enough."
She lowered her hands slowly, her eyes staring back up at Oreon as he continued to listen. "Your father didn't just take our kingdom. He took our dignity. Our future. "Her voice hardens. "So, when you speak of stopping him, understand this: I don't care about your redemption or your guilt. I care about what he took from me and my sister. I care about making him pay that debt back in blood." Her eyes sparked with determination as she stared Oreon down as he returned it for a moment, the tension rising as her words settled in. Suddenly, she raised her hand and gave him a flick on the forehead, stunning him for a split second, before leaning against the window seal. "So, don't be stupid. Facing your father alone is nothing but a suicide mission, nothing short of a death wish." She kept her crimson eyes locked on him. "That man commands an army blessed with divine power-or whatever passes for divinity in this twisted world." She lowered her eyes a bit. "Not to mention the Holy Order itself, you wouldn't make it past the Paladins on your own."
Oreon stared at her, his slightly shocked expression at her actions slowly melting away as a soft smile returned to his face before he turned his attention back towards the window. "Suicide Mission, huh?" The outside lights reflect off his eyes. "Yeah, you're probably right. Maybe it is a suicide mission." He continued as Sylvanie kept her eyes on him, allowing him to speak. "Holy Order soldiers, Generals, Commanders, Paladins, and who knows what else…Hell, probably demons at this point." His eyes slightly narrowed as he turned his attention back towards Sylvanie. "But it doesn't matter, I planned on walking my father down all the same."
A slight smile appeared on Sylvanie's face. "Bold words, human, bold words." She started as she reached up and flicked him on his head again.
"Ow…Could you stop doing that!" Oreon slightly raised his voice.
"Then stop being stupid." Sylvanie lifted herself off the window seat. "Besides, you'd be dead three times over without someone watching your back." Sylvanie tilted her head slightly, her arms still slightly crossed. "Understand this, human."
"It's Oreon." Oreon interrupted her.
"Human…" Sylvanie gave him a deadpanned stare, as if solidifying her name for him.
"This isn't just your fight." She slightly turns her head towards the washroom. "My sister may appear gentle, but don't be fooled. She ruled a kingdom. Made decisions that determined whether people lived or died." Sylvanie brings her eyes back to Oreon. "She won't abandon this fight, and neither will I."
Suddenly, the washroom door opens, releasing a cloud of steam. Celestia emerges, transformed by her bath. Her pale blonde hair, now clean and combed, falls in a silken cascade down her back. The simple green dress Mira provided fits her surprisingly well, highlighting her graceful figure while providing modesty appropriate for a common traveler. Her Elven features are still unmistakable up close, but with a hood or scarf, she might pass unnoticed in a crowd. She looks refreshed, though exhaustion remains evident in the shadows beneath her eyes, and she carries her old, tattered clothing bundled in her arms.
'That was…" She pauses, searching for words, "…Heavenly." Her eyes close briefly in appreciation before she notices the slight tension between Oreon and Sylvanie. "Have I interrupted something?" She asked, her eyes blinking a bit.
Sylvanie straightens, her guarded expression relaxing slightly at the sight of her sister refreshed.
"Nothing important," She answered." Just discussing family legacies."
Celestia's preceptive gaze shifts between both Sylvanie and Oreon, clearly understanding more than Sylvanie admits. She moves to sit on the edge of the bed, combing her fingers through her damp hair.
"Oreon was just explaining his motives," Sylvanie added after a moment. "Apparently, he plans to face Alaric alone." She states as she walks away with her hands behind her head, as Celestia's hands pause in her hair, as her queen-like gaze falls on Oreon.
"Don't be stupid," Celestia said uncharacteristically, causing a comedic shocked expression from Oreon. "That would be suicide. "She says simply, her blue eyes finding his. "No matter how noble the intention."
"And with that, I believe it's my turn to take a bath." Sylvanie walks towards the washroom, stretching as she grabs the clean garments left by Mira on the table and heads into the washroom, but stops, slightly turning her head towards Oreon. "Celestia, make sure the human doesn't peek." She said as a light blush crept across Oreon's face.
"I wouldn't dare!" Oreon shouted at her as Celestia gave a small lighthearted smile before nodding her head as Sylvanie walked into the washroom, closing the door behind her. "God, what is her problem?" Oreon said out loud.
Celestia's soft laughter fills the room as the washroom door closes behind Sylvanie. The sound is musical, almost surprising in its lightness-perhaps the first genuine moment of mirth since their escape.
"She's testing you," Celestia explained, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement at Oreon's embarrassment. "My sister has always found provocation to be the quickest way to understand someone's character." She continued combing through her damp hair with her fingers, the simple action carrying on the innate grace that speaks to years of royal upbringing. Even in a refugee's borrowed dress, there is something unmistakably regal in her bearing.
"You must forgive her caution." She added, her tone a bit more serious than before." Trust doesn't come easily to Sylvanie in the best of circumstances. And these…" She gestures vaguely at their surroundings, "Are far from the best."
Oreon crossed his arms and nodded his head as he kept his eyes on Celestia. "It's understandable, it would be hard for anyone in their right mind to trust anyone with what's going on right now," Oreon replied as he turned his head towards the window.
"I suspect even the people here have a hard time trusting one another, even though they are all more alike than they realize." Oreon finished as the sound of water splashing could be heard from behind the washroom door. Accompanied by what might be humming surprisingly domestic sound from the fierce dark elf.
"Were you really planning on facing your father alone?" Celestia speaks again, her voice gentle but firm, "I understand the impulse to shoulder a burden that feel like yours alone." She said as she rises from the bed and moves to sit beside Oreon on the Window Seat, maintained a respectful distance but close enough for private conversation. The fading light of the sun casts half her face in shadow, highlighting the ethereal quality of her features.
"But this burden isn't yours alone," She continued. "What your father has done- what the Order has done- it affects all of us. The elves, the dwarves, Beastkin, the dragonborns…even humans who don't share their vision."
"The whole damn world," Oreon stated. "The Holy Order's influence stretches far and wide." He closed his eyes for a moment. "I know that,"
Celestia looks out the window briefly, watching the street below where a patrol of Order soldiers passes by, their armor gleaming in the torchlight. Her expression remains calm, but her hands tighten in her lap.
"Sylvanie and I lost our kingdom, but we haven't lost our responsibility to our people." She said, turning back to Oreon. "Those who survived are scattered, hiding, enslaved. As their Queen, I cannot abandon them."
From the washroom, the splashing has stopped, though Sylvanie has not yet emerged.
"So, you see," Celestia said with a small, sad smile, "Our paths align, whether by fate or circumstance. Your quest to stop your father is our quest for liberation. We cannot separate these journeys now." Her sapphire eyes held Oreon's gaze steadily, a quiet strength behind them that belied her gentle demeanor.
"And truthfully, I don't believe any one person could face Alaric and survive. Not even his son. He commands armies, wields political influence, and has convinced half the continent that his crusade is divinely sanctioned."
Oreon turns his attention back to the window before returning his eyes to Celestia, and letting out a small sigh. "Alright, alright; I think both you and your sister have made your points. I can't beat my father on my own, I get it. You don't have to keep beating a dead horse." He gives her a small smirk. "It's not just my fight…"
The washroom door opens with a burst of steam, and Sylvanie emerges wearing the clean tan clothes-fitted trousers, and black loose tunic that do little to disguise her athletic figure. Her violet hair hangs damp around her shoulders, and her crimson eyes immediately narrow at the sight of her sister sitting close to Oreon.
"Already plotting without me?" She asked, though her tone is lighter than before, the bath having apparently improved her mood.
"Discussing strategy." Celestia corrects gently,
"Just coming up with a plan." Oreon followed right behind her.
Sylvanie crosses the room with catlike grace, droplets of water still clinging to her violet hair. She settles on the bed, leaning back against the headboard with casual confidence.
"Which is plotting," Sylvanie continued, "Just with fancier words." She tosses a small towel aside and fixes her crimson gaze on both Celestia and Oreon. "So, what's the verdict? Are we still running, or are we finally going to do something about the Order?" She questioned as Oreon stands up from the Window seat, walking towards the table and grabbing his clean garments that Mira left.
"How about we talk about that when I get back," Oreon stated as he walked towards the washroom. "It's my turn." He said as he walked into the washroom, closing the door behind him. A few seconds passed as the sound of water could be heard being turned on, followed by a loud scream and a crash.
"You crazy elf!" Oreon screamed from his crashed position on the floor. "You used the last of the hot water!"
The sudden outburst from the washroom breaks the serious atmosphere, causing both sisters to react in starkly different ways. Celestia's hand flies to her mouth, attempting to stifle a surprised laugh that escapes anyway, her eyes wide with a mixture of guilt and amusement.
Sylvanine, by contrast, doesn't even try to hide her satisfaction. A wicked grin spreads across her face as she towels her violet hair, her crimson eyes dancing with mischief.
"Did I?" she calls back innocently, exchanging a conspiratorial look with her sister. "How terribly inconsiderate of me."
Celestia shakes her head disapprovingly but can't quite manage to look stern with the smile still playing on her lips. "Sylvanie," She chided softly.
"What?' Sylvanie shrugs, dropping onto the bed and stretching out like a satisfied cat. "Cold water builds character. Isn't that what humans say?"
"Should we tell him there's a heating rune under the tub?" Celestia whispers, her blue eyes dancing with suppressed laughter.
Sylvaine flops onto the bed, spreading her arms wide as she recovers from her laughing fit. "Absolutely not," she declared with wicked delight. "Let him suffer a little. It builds trust."
Celestia raises an eyebrow at this peculiar logic. "How exactly does making someone endure a freezing bath build trust?"
"Because now he knows I'm capable of petty revenge," Sylvaine explained, propping herself up on her elbows. "It's honest. No pretense of perfect nobility."
The sounds of reluctant washing and occasional muttered curses filter through the door, causing Sylvanie to chuckle.
"I think I'm beginning to like him," She admits quietly to her sister. "Don't tell him I said that."
Celestia smiles knowingly, moving to sit beside her sister on the bed.
"Your secret is safe," She promised, her voice equally soft. "Though I suspect he already knows you don't truly hate him."
Sylvanie scoffs, but there's less bite to it than usual. "I'm merely reassessing his usefulness to our cause," She insisted, examining her nails with feigned nonchalance. "A direct connection to Alaric could prove valuable."
Celestia doesn't challenge the statement, but her knowing smile remains. The sisters sit in comfortable silence for a few moments, the first peaceful respite they've had since their escape.
Sylvanie sits up fully, her expression growing more serious as the laughter fades. "What were you two discussing before I came out?" She asked, lowering her voice. "And don't say 'Strategy' again. I saw that look on your face."
Celestia hesitates, glancing toward the washroom door.
"I was merely suggesting that our causes are aligned," She explained quietly. "That facing Alaric alone would be suicide for any of us, but together…"
Sylvanie's expression darkens slightly, her earlier playfulness fading. "Together we might have a chance," She finishes. "But at what cost, Celestia? How many more of our people will die in this fight?'
She runs a hand through her damp hair, frustration evident in the gesture. "We're not just fugitives, we're the last of the royal bloodline. If we fall, what hope remains for our people?"
Celestia reaches out, placing a gentle hand on her sister's arm.
"And if we hide, what would that say about our royalty?" She countered softly. "Our people suffer under Alaric's rule every day we delay."
Suddenly, the washroom door opens with a cloud of significantly less steam than before. Oreon emerges, clean but visibly disgruntled, his hair slightly damp from the towel that he used to dry it. The simple night clothes dressed him as he sent a slight glare towards Sylvanie.
"Next time," Oreon said pointedly to Sylvanie, "I'm bathing first." Making his statement clear as he grumbles as he makes his way back towards the window seat, while the elf sisters sit on the bed. He sits on the cushion seat and leans back against the wall. While lifting his head up; taking in the moonlight that shines through. A deep sigh follows before he speaks again.
"We should all get some sleep tonight." Oreon began as he kept his gaze on the moon. "Since we got away from the Order, we haven't had any rest; So, I don't think anybody should keep watch." Oreon finishes.
"Wait, you want us to sleep unguarded? Have you lost your mind, human?" Sylvaine questions, her tone incredulous. She sits up straighter on the bed, her crimson eyes narrowing. "In an inn, in a town where the Order is patrolling, with a price on all our heads?"
Celestia places a gentle hand on her sister's arm, a silent request for patience.
"Oreon may be right." She said softly. "Perhaps just this once," she suggested gently, "we could all rest. The inn seems secure enough, and Mira has proven trustworthy thus far."
Sylvanie directs her attention towards her older sister. "That's how people end up with their throats slit." She argued.
"I think you're exaggerating a bit," Oreon replied, earning Sylvanie's attention once again.
"I agree, sister." Celestia gives her a gentle smile." The inn has thick walls, and I doubt that Mira would go through the trouble to hide us if she were just going to turn us in." Celestia concluded.
"You're trusting her?"Sylvanie scoffs, though it lacks her usual sharpness.. "She's a human."
"So is Oreon," Celestia reminded her gently.
A moment of silence follows as Sylvanie seems to wrestle with her instincts. "Fine," She finally concedes with a sigh. "But I'm sleeping closest to the door."
Celestia nods. "Then I'll take the other side of the bed.
"Then it's settled," Oreon smiled as he began to make himself comfortable on the cushioned window seat. "I'll sleep here so I can….
"Absolutely not," Sylvaine states firmly, crossing her arms. "You're not sleeping on that tiny ledge after everything that's happened today."
Celestia nods in agreement, her blue eyes reflecting the moonlight as she gestures towards the spacious bed. "The bed has plenty of room," She insisted. "You've earned your rest, and we won't hear of it."
"But…I um, you see it's just that…" Oreon found himself stuttering at the thought of sleeping in the bed with two women.
Sylvanie, never one for patience, moves to the window seat and unceremoniously grabs Oreon's arm. "You humans and your misplaced sense of chivalry," She grunted. "Up," she commanded. "This is not up for debate; it's a Royal decree."
"Wait, what are you doing? Let go of me, you crazy elf!" Oreon screams, but he suddenly finds himself caught between Sylvanine's insistent pulling and Celestia's gentle but equally determined guidance. The sisters work in surprising harmony despite their different approaches- Sylvanie all force and Directness, Celestia with subtle persuasion.
"There," she said, pointing to the middle section. "You sleep there. I'll take this side near the door, and Celestia will take the far side. That way, if anyone tries to enter, they'll have to get through me first."
"Wait, I…" Oreon tried to counter.
"It's settled then," Celestia said with quiet authority, her hand now placed on Oreon's back, but instead of a gentle gesture, it is more of a hovering threat. "No one will keep watch, and no one sleeps on uncomfortable window seats."
"Now hold on…I," Oreon continued to try and protest.
"Don't make her use her royal command voice," Sylvanie warns, a slight smirk crossing her face as they both begin to get under the covers on their respective sides.
"Come on, are you two even listening to me?" Oreon groaned slightly, defeated in this exchange.
"Just get in the damn bed before I drag you in here," she threatened, though there's a hint of playfulness beneath her stern tone.
"Oreon…" Celestia's sudden gentle but authoritative tone sends a chill down his spine as he slowly turned his head towards the Queen of elves, who sat up upright. The covers covering her lower half as she placed her hands gently in her lap, her facial expression appears to be gentle, but the looming death threat behind it says otherwise.
"Uh…Yes…. Celestia…" Oreon gulped.
"Get in bed." Celestia's gentle but stern voice commanded. "I will not ask again." She stated clearly as Oreon slowly nodded his head, finally accepting the fact that he lost this bout and slowly but gently crawled in the middle between the two elves. As he got settled in under the covers, both elves turned their backs to him and got comfortable, and Oreon did his best to get comfortable on his own.
"Don't worry, human. My sister doesn't bite," Sylvanie quipped, then added with a flash of her crimson eyes, "I, however, make no such promises."
The sound of Celestia giggling on the other side of him causes him to sigh, but in a breath of relief as he closed his eyes. "Get some rest you two." He gently said as it didn't take long for exhaustion to catch up with the three and soon, the sound of gentle snores filled the room. There bodies succumbing to soft mattress that they lay on.
-Meanwhile-
As the night settled and the trio's bodies finally gave way to a well-deserved rest. Downstairs, Mira was closing up the Tavern. While her helper Lena was carrying things to the back. As the last few customers finally decided to head home for the night, a dark figure walked into the tavern.
Mira, without looking up from the glass that she was cleaning, "It's after hours, but I reckoned you're not here for a drink." She spoke without fear in her voice, looking up to see a tall, neatly dressed, gray-skinned man with elf ears wearing black holy garb adorned with the Holy Order insignia on his vest.
"Sharp as ever, Mira," The voice spoke back as the green eyes of the stranger locked eyes with Mira's brown eyes as they stood there in silence, tension building as the two slightly glared at each other.