Heirs of Hyarch

Chapter 135: Weapons of War

The pair of wooden cases held two hex of swords between them, all carefully packed and wrapped in fresh leather and cloth. Although the care given to them spoke of their value, Hamond could not tell more. They could even be of Remuati make and he wouldn't know, despite his brown skin clearly showing his own Remuati blood. He was a thaumaturge, not a swordsman or smith, and hardly the person to judge a blade's quality or origin.

Myronel, who now knelt by one of the cases, was. "Where did you find these?" he asked.

"They were hidden under the floorboards," Edeline said, "I noticed a hole along the edge of one of them, and saw something underneath. I was not expecting this though."

"Probably how they lifted them up," Hamond added.

Myronel lifted one up, rising to his feet. He pulled the cloth and tossed it aside, then gave the sword a few practice swings. "Decent heft, and it looks sharp enough. It's probably not the finest steel, but it would serve in a fight. That fight, though...it may come soon."

"What do you mean?" Edeline drew back, likely already having an idea of her brother's answer.

"There's no sheaths. It could be that they haven't been made yet. I'm doubtful of that though, as that's usually taken care of before handing them out to the men wielding them. The other possibility is that they don't expect to need them. They are going to be put to use here in Melyn."

"The rebellion," Edeline grumbled, "Our first day here, and we stumble right into it."

Hamond immediately moved to offer support. It was the one thing she had hoped to avoid, even as they had admitted to each other that luck could be against them. For it to be this soon though...one could argue this was the work of some sadistic manipulator arranging events just to make Edeline suffer, and Hamond wouldn't be able to dispute it.

"That leaves two questions," Myronel noted, "First is if this rebellion is mainly centered on the Elefae here. Second, well, we already decided we were going to try to get that answer from Lord Melyn."

"I hold doubts he would be so generous as Lady Kelshir," Edeline observed.

"I agree, but there is a difference between knowing about something happening in your domain and taking action against it." Myronel's gaze went over to by the doorway where Sedat stood silently. "We learned that in Lasfont."

"What?" Sedat replied, looking up at them. "Don't think swords had anything much to do with Lasfont's problems. Most of the guards there used spears anyway."

As talented with spells as Sedat was, sometimes her logic went in odd directions. "That's not the issue here," Hamond said, trying to get things back on the path.

"Wait, she's got a point." Myronel paused, chuckled for some reason, then continued. "Spears are cheaper than swords. Easier to hide, too. You can just remove the spearpoints and conceal them, and no one is going to question wooden shafts too much when they can be used for tools."

"Someone with coin to spend is behind all of this," Edeline concluded, "I hate being forced into haste, but we must meet with Lord Melyn quickly. If battle breaks out, there's no chance he can send the relief Lasfont needs."

"Within the next hexday, if it can be arranged," Hamond said. They had originally figured it might take a few days before Lord Melyn would have an opportunity to meet them, and that was assuming he believed they were being honest. If he was distracted by the rebellion, their plans would amount to nothing worthwhile.

"It had better be arranged." Edeline's irritation with the whole situation showed. "I would rather not resort to more drastic measures to get an audience with the lord."

"I hope you're not planning on forcing your way into his private chambers," Myronel said.

"Really bad idea," Sedat added her agreement. "Could be lots of guards."

"I was referring more to the possibility of a stealthy entrance," Edeline stated, crossing her arms. "Do you think me that lacking in subtlety?"

Hamond and Myronel glanced at each other.

"Fine. I know it's not the best plan," Edeline admitted, "Should Lord Melyn refuse though, our choices shrink with each day."

"We'll find a way," Myronel said, "If anything, there's a conversation I'm dreading even more than our meeting with the lord."

"What would that be?" Hamond didn't see anything that could be more risky.

"Telling Zerendel the truth of what happened to his family." Myronel's voice was heavy. "Unless you found some evidence otherwise, I assume they were taken prisoner by the royal knights. We know what happens to their captives."

"So we go rescue them," Sedat replied without any hesitation. "Can't be that hard with all your spells."

Hamond snorted in amusement. "No, we wouldn't have any trouble defeating them in a straight battle. But they outnumber us, and can easily attack at night while we sleep. Even if we had people keeping watch, sooner or later we would be overwhelmed. We'd have to win many fights. They just have to win one."

"Go find whoever wanted those swords and give them over, and they'd help you," Sedat insisted.

It was really hard to argue with someone so optimistic. "We'll see if that's needed." If it was the Elefae, Myronel and Nela would push them to do that anyway.

"For now, let's put the swords back under the floor." Myronel closed one of the cases. "We can decide what to do with them another day."

Edeline pulled the loose boards aside, and Hamond helped Myronel slide the case back into the shallow trench underneath. For some reason, it felt heavier than when they'd lifted them out. Moving them here must have been quite the ordeal, especially if they had to do it unseen. Maybe that was how the knights had found out to raid this place.

Once the other case was back in, Edeline sealed the opening. "At least this place does solve one problem for us. There's a good bit of food stored away here. Some of it was spoiled, but we won't need to worry for going to the market for that."

"We still have to see if we can pick up fresh clothing." Hamond looked down at his tunic, which had become a bit too tattered and stained. It might mean a few days getting it fit and made at a tailor's, but it would be worth it.

"It would help us to look more presentable for Lord Melyn," Myronel acknowledged.

"And for finding work," Hamond added, "Unless you want us to do some labor."

"In truth, I thought I would try my hand at being a street musician." Hamond blinked. It was true Myronel had been playing his flute for them in the evenings, although he'd thought it was just to entertain Sedat. Then again, if she enjoyed it, other people ought to as well.

"And you did not think to mention it to us?" Edeline frowned.

"You know how much you have on your mind. And I wasn't sure I wanted to do it either. I know I'm far from the best in the kingdom."

"Third best is good enough," Sedat said, "Should be fine. If you had enough time, half the city would come to hear you play."

"I am fairly sure we do not want that amount of attention," Hamond told her, then turned to Myronel. "It would take several days of that to get the coin we need. It does not pay well. I...met a few back in Hallowscroft."

Back when he had been taking the role of a healer.

"It's not like we have many other skills to offer. I don't think we'd have much luck finding someone who needs a cook, and it's not like labor would pay any better either. The truth is, none of us were really brought up to do everyday work except Nela. Her doing that here would draw even more attention than I would playing the flute."

"I was," Sedat said.

"You can hardly do it now though," Edeline stated, then her expression softened. "Thank you though."

Sedat's well-meaning but impractical offer aside, their other problem was that Nela wasn't the type to demand payment. As rough as she could be, she was also very generous with her patients. While that was a good trait given that they kept running into people who couldn't possibly pay them back, Hamond hoped the men and women in Melyn were in a better position. Beyond any doubt though, he knew Myronel wouldn't try to convince Nela otherwise.

"We'll go with your idea then," Hamond said, conceding to Myronel.

"Good." Myronel took a moment to stretch. "I'm going back up to check on Nela and the boy. Shout if someone else enters the inn."

It seemed to Hamond that the man was worrying far too much. Funny, because that was more what he would have expected of himself. Especially given that there was one more element to all of this, a rogue card that could come into play at any point and force them to revise their plans. The Witch of Wrath was still out there.

The fear still ate at him a little, but he had a better sense of what her limits were. They could defeat her, they had defeated her, and if the Witch of Wrath caused trouble for them here, they would defeat her again. Just don't let panic get the best of him, and everything would work out.

"Do I get new clothing too?" Sedat asked once Myronel was gone from the kitchen.

"Maybe later," Hamond said, "Edeline and Myronel are more important, since they're going to be the ones to meet with Lord Melyn. The rest of us can wait if we have to."

"Itches a bunch though. Think it's the feathers on my legs." Sedat lifted a foot up, making her long tunic slide up her leg.

"Any new tunic you get would have the same problem," Edeline said.

"Can't go get fitted for something that wouldn't, right?" Sedat replied, "Still better than wearing rags, but...kind of hoped for more."

"I know." Hamond met Sedat's gaze with his own. "If anything, we weren't as thoughtful about money as we should have been. That changes, starting now."

"Or tomorrow," Edeline added teasingly, a warm smile growing on her face. "Right now, we probably need to get working on the meal. We can hardly have her going hungry."

"Just want to eat yourself," Sedat retorted.

"I do not want to eat any part of myself." Edeline almost managed to stifle her laugh at Sedat's choice of words. "If I ever get into a position where I was forced to cut off my arm or leg or such just to have food, I would sooner starve."

"I get the message," Hamond said, hurrying over to one of the cabinets. There should be some dried meat he could work with there, if he remembered what their search had turned up correctly.