Two Weeks Ago

Exhaustion sent Kain into a deep sleep from the moment his head hit the pillow.

If it weren't for the faint ache that swept through his temple as a polite, yet firm knocking woke him the next morning, he wouldn't have realized any time had passed. As it was, in the seconds following the rousing noise, he shoved his face deeper into the pillow crushed between his arms. A mutinous part of him considered staying there forever.

That wasn't possible, however, so he slowly rolled out of the bed.

Kain opened the door to Lyre offering him a greeting bow. A pile of clothing laid over the servant's arm.

"Good morning, Milord," Lyre said as he straightened. "I hope I didn't disturb you, but the tailor came by with some of the ready-made items he measured you for last night."

Kain shook his head, stepping away so Lyre could enter. "Not at all. Please, come in."

The servant swept past him, walking straight for the room divider. He laid the clothing over the top, before turning to face Kain with a friendly, but hesitant smile. "Were you wanting help, Milord? I am a competent manservant if you wish. Or I could check the state of your breakfast. Will you and the missus be dining together?"

It was Kain's turn to hesitate. There was a chance Lyre would consider it odd if he turned down all assistance, but he couldn't view being dressed by a severent as anything less than disconcerting. "Checking on breakfast would be appreciated. And...yes, I believe I will."

More accurately, he would ask and make sure she was comfortable with it while the servant was gone, then dine together if the answer was yes.

Lyre nodded, before starting towards the door. "Very well, Milord."

As soon as he was gone, Kain approached the room divider. A quick study of the clothing provided told him the material was more expensive than anything he'd ever owned. Which was to be expected given their benefactor. As was the fact the outfit consisted of typical Eolian noble fashion.

The pristine, white collared shirt had a faint ruffled design down the buttoned front, and was extremely soft to the touch. The accompanying blue-and-silver vest felt like silk, and despite the rush the tailor had been subjected to, it was just snug enough to be comfortable, but not suffocating. It felt odd to tuck the black pants over his travel boots, but the end result looked rich enough after he found a cloth to polish a few scuffs off the toes.

The last touch Kain added to the outfit was an uncertain one. Despite being aware that Alekos had hung onto his blade, therefore making dawning his sword-belt pointless, Kain still strapped the leather into place. He wouldn't be able to relax without at least an ounce of the familiar weight.

Once he had finished, Kain approached the bathroom door that connected his and Melitta's quarters. His hesitant knock was met first by silence, then muffled conversion. Despite his sensitive ears, Kain couldn't pick up on anything beyond the existence of whispered words.

"Melitta?" he called uncertainty.

"Just a moment!"

Content she had heard him, he tucked one hand into his pocket to wait. The other combed absently through his hair. Belatedly, Kain realized he should've done something with it in an attempt to complete his fanciful appearance, but it felt so odd. The sailor in him was used to simply throwing his mother's cap into place and calling it good. And, beyond that, the adventurer of the last month had simply grown used to ignoring the loose curls.

Just as impulse won and Kain had begun to search the bathroom cabinet for a comb, the door into Melitta's quarters swung open. He hastily shoved the cabinet shut and straightened to face her.

His mind blanked.

Logically, he knew the person before him was the same woman he had traveled with for the last two months, but in reality, she looked nothing like the travel-weary merfolk he had come to know.

Her blond hair hung loose over the pristine white sleeves of her coupled dress. The rich, deep blue fabric of the skirt clung to her knees in the front, before curling down to her calves in the back. A black, outer corset cinched her waist with delicate ribbon. The fabric seemed to cling to every curve of her figure, drawing Kain's eyes before he remembered his manners and drug his attention back to her fathomless, blue eyes.

"Oh."

Pink rose in her cheeks, even as an amused smile overtook Melitta's lips.

"Oh?" she questioned. "I had hoped for a better assessment than that."

Kain's face burned and he shook his head. His hand continued to shift through his hair. This time, the action attempted to calm the sudden racing of his heart.

"I--sorry. I, should express myself better," he stuttered. "You...look wonderful."

"Thank you." She paused, then tilted her head. The fire in his face grew stronger as she made no attempt to hide the way her eyes skimmed his body, before a smile overtook her lips. "You as well, Kain. They made an excellent choice. Expensive blue suits you."

Kain's frantic attempt to pull a response, any response, to his tongue was fruitless. In the end, he mumbled a thanks while tugging on his bangs. Melitta laughed, before her eyes skipped past him, presumably to the empty room beyond his frame.

"Was there something...?"

"Oh. I--there was the question of us sharing a meal," Kain explained. "Since we're letting them assume a relationship, I thought it might be best, but if you're not interested--"

"No, no," Melitta interrupted, amusement coloring her voice. "It is a good call. Give me just a moment longer, I'm almost finished."

"Yes, I--a moment then," Kain said, wrangling his empty mind into a proper reply.

Melitta shut the door as he stepped back. Once again, the faintest sound of conversation echoed through the wood. The only difference this time being that Kain realized he recognized the voice--Isidor.

He hesitated. The desire to linger and learn why the witch was visiting warred with the knowledge that eavesdropping would be rude, and an invasion of Melitta's privacy.

His first thoughts were that perhaps her old injuries had been angered in the fight, or were still troubling her. It was Melitta, however, so he shoved the concerns deep and withdrew from the bathroom.

If either issue was truly the reason Isidor was there, Melitta would share the information, if only to allow them to account for it if another conflict broke out. Melitta was responsible like that. If she chose not to mention the visit over their meal, it meant that whatever was talked about was not his business.

You're overthinking it, he told himself as he dropped into one of the armchairs and cast the issue out of his mind. Likely, Isidor had simply stepped in to say hello, or inquire about the state of things.

As the seconds ticked by, Kain's thoughts turned to a more appropriate subject--what would become of their day after their breakfast was finished.

Would Alekos leave them to their own devices? He likely had more important things to do than entertain himself with his troublesome "guests." Kain's hand fell to his pocket, fingers playing with the iron keyring he'd stuffed into the fine fabric.

They wouldn't be locked in, but he doubted that leaving the palace itself was an option. Continuing to pursue Iliana wasn't possible. If that was the case, what issue in his jumble of a mind became the most important?

The initial answer was obvious.

Rhode.

As much as Kain would like to focus on his own problems and take this forced pause as time to dig into what Alekos knew about his complicated family, Rhode's issue was much more pressing. After all, each second that passed was another chance someone would recognize the siren. It begged the question--

If Rhode really was Asha, the woman who supposedly slaughtered her husband and newborn child, why would Inna take her in as a siren? Why would she offer her a special blessing? It seemed odd.

But, it was also universally accepted that Asha had, in fact, killed her family, and that Inna had, in fact, offered all those gifts.

If they were going to be stuck here, deciphering that mystery--with Rhode's blessing--seemed important. They would just have to be careful given the general public's opinion on her history.

The second answer of what they should do with their time that came into Kain's thoughts struck him as just as important, although not quite as dramatic.

Mara.

When Kyril was taunting them, he'd offered the chance to see Mara. That meant the duchess currently resided in the palace. And while the king's interference meant that, at least until the trial, Kyril couldn't harm Kain and his party, he held no illusions that the same protection had been extended to the duke's wife. It was a horrid fact that upper society turned a blind eye to the actions of nobles who wielded enough power to "balance" their hobbies.

Kyril would be angry they were beyond his reach. Angry people tended to make those around them suffer. And Kain couldn't justify turning a blind eye to what he knew would follow.

A light knock startled him from his thoughts. It was followed by Melitta slipping through the bathroom door, a warm smile on her lips. Kain scrambled to his feet, only to sit again once Melitta had chosen a chair.

"I was thinking we should try and find Mara today, if we can," Kain shared.

Something unidentifiable crossed Melitta's face, before she nodded, her warm smile slipping into a faint frown.

"Checking on her is good, but being seen with her wouldn't be," she said. "While our presence would protect her in public..."

"It would harm her in private," Kain finished.

"Correct. If you are going to search for her, it is best that Calli and I spend our time drawing the attention of the peerage. After all, from what you said of Alekos' intentions, we've no way of knowing the exact time when the trial will be held. And a vague month is nothing when it comes to politics," Melitta pointed out.

Kain hesitated, disliking the idea of splitting up. Before he could make up his mind on the matter, a knock came on his door. Lyre's return was followed by a meal more lavish than Kain had ever experienced. Rich fruit and pastries covered the small table they dined on, many of which neither he or Melitta could identify.

Given Lyre's background presence--he bustled around the room, tidying what little there was to handle--their conversation fell to lighter topics. Kain asked about the rooms she and the others had been gifted, and in turn, Melitta asked how his night had progressed after they left. It wasn't until talk of the tailor arose that anything truly meaningful entered their talks.

"I think Alekos is planning something," Melitta shared. "When the tailor was taking my sizes, they questioned what style I preferred for public events, whether I had appropriate shoes with me, jewelry, and so forth."

Kain grimaced. "A banquet?"

Lyre stopped fussing with the bedsheets, his expression obviously torn.

"Do you know?" Kain prompted.

"His Majesty scheduled a week-long celebration," Lyre said, uncertain. "It is not my place to assume his intentions, but given the timing of the plans, most assumed it was to encourage a pleasant outcome to the Aeolian talks."

"A week?" Kain questioned, blanching.

Melitta shook her head. "That isn't all that surprising. Upper nobility, royalty especially, tend to hold lavish events to encourage political outcomes." Her eyes flicked to Lyre, and Kain got the impression she was curbing her words based on his presence. "A week is a bit longer than most, but not entirely unusual."

A new concern arose in Kain's thoughts. "If he plans to have clothing tailored for us in such a short time, it will be expensive. Even more so than simple noble clothing."

Melitta gave a subtle shake of her head, and Kain dropped the subject. Was she saying it was unwise to talk of potentially owing the king something for his gifts in front of the servant?

Seeming to realize that they were censoring themselves, Lyre stepped over to their table with a swift bow. "If Milord and Missus are done dining, I will leave for now."

They agreed, and Lyre settled their plates upon a tray he had brought with him, before bustling from the room. Kain opened his mouth to say something, but Melitta held up a hand and approached the door. She waited a moment in silence, before swinging it open and glancing at the hall. Seemingly satisfied, she let it fall shut and turned her attention back to Kain.

"You can never be too careful," she explained. "Alekos wouldn't have assigned an unloyal servant to us, and purchased ears have ways of hearing things you would like kept secret."

Kain had known that in theory, but it seemed that practicing well-founded paranoia of the court was much more difficult.

"You are right to assume these gifts are more expensive than we should feel comfortable with," Melitta told him. "But, it would be more rude to refuse them, than we risk by accepting. Just be careful. When royalty flaunt their wealth, they typically have ulterior motives in mind. I hope it is as simple as winning your, and therefore the Cieonian crown's favor, but I fear worse."

Kain frowned. Melitta knew the most in this situation, so he wasn't going to doubt her worry, but it struck him as odd. "If he meant us harm, Alekos could have just had us executed," he pointed out.

Melitta's smile turned wry as she approached their shared bathroom. She shook her head, hand resting on the doorknob.

"You should know, Kain, there are far worse things than death. And most of them can be accomplished with a smile. Just, be careful. I am going to go tell Callias of our plans. Be careful, and fetch one of the others to explore with you."

And, with her warning given, Melitta left. 

A/N: An update!

I don't know why I struggled so hard with this chapter, but I eventually decided to just finish it and move on. The next one should be much easier to get out. :) See you next week!