Two Weeks Ago

"When we left Nokos, one of Lykos' people, a harpy named Semele, joined us for the trek across Eol. It was decided after Iliana had the idea for us to try and escape through a cornfield. She flew over top and found us both with no trouble."

Callias' words spun through Kain's already overwhelmed mind. A harpy. Was the name a coincidence? Or did the Unseen Hand have people even here, in the palace of the king?

He shivered at the thought and leaned away from the toilet, bottom settling on his heels. His stomach still cramped uncomfortably, but his mind had found bigger things to worry about than his own impending doom.

If the Unseen Hand was present in the capital, how far were they from overtaking it? When Dalphie had introduced their concept to him and the others in Nokos, she had called them rebels. What would the ultimate goal of such rebels be, if not overthrowing the current government?

If they were content with just Nokos, what reason would there be for integrating the harpy into the palace? Information? To protect themselves? It was possible, but felt unlikely.

And if they were looking to overthrow the government, how dangerous was it to be in Sol? How far might the movement be from feeling confident enough to start a fight?

Did he have a responsibility to share what they knew? Or, was it none of their business to begin with? Was it really all that bad if he left them alone?

His mind flashed back to Nokos, to the poverty stricken, criminal infested, free city. A place like that couldn't exist if the people were happy. Then there was the overwhelming prosperity of the palace, when compared to the slums. The rumors of corruption that had led to people fleeing to Nokos in the first place.

Who should they support? The criminals, or the corrupt monarchy?

"What was your impression of them?" he asked Callias.

Over the past few weeks, Kain had asked many questions about the group. He'd questioned their numbers, their abilities, what Callias knew of their destination, but had seen no reason for this question. They were kidnappers--there was little reason to worry about their morality.

However, this issue, the harpy, changed that.

Callias frowned, tucking an arm around his middle as he leaned against the doorframe. His other hand tugging a lock of hair around his finger in thought.

"They aren't bad people," he offered after a moment.

Kain's instinct was to instantly refute that--they were criminals that had kidnapped Iliana after all--but he held his tongue. He doubted Callias would offer such an opinion without information to back it. "How so?"

Callias' eyes flicked to Melitta, before refocusing on Kain. "Natia, first off. It would have been easier for them to ignore her. Lykos repeated every line about how picking her up would cause trouble. But, they still did it. Semele was the most insistent."

It fit what he knew of harpies. They believed in justice. There was nothing just in slavery.

"What else?" he asked.

Callias' eyes dropped to his hand.

"Lykos trained Iliana to fight, and allowed me to join them. He seemed to want to ensure she knew how to take care of herself. He would also instigate her temper on purpose. I think he wanted her to hate him." Callias' fingers stilled, before releasing his hair. "It's easier to move through despair if you have something to focus on. Someone to blame."

"Stories of the Unseen Hand give hope," Melitta murmured when Callias fell silent. "I still don't understand why they would take a siren, but..."

"You don't think we should tell Alekos about Semele," Kain finished.

She nodded. Kain looked to Callias for his opinion, and after a long minute the merman looked up to meet his gaze.

"I think the Hand would have abandoned Lykos if his true goal was enslaving a gods' child. Everything I--we know about the hand and their position in Reotak...they are no different than in Eol. Their names came to slaves in whispers of freedom."

That was it, then. Whatever Lykos' goal, they wouldn't betray Semele's name.

"We'll stay silent," Kain decided, then paused. There was more to discuss, but the bathroom seemed like an inappropriate place. "If you'll give me a moment, we can discuss the rest after I've..."

He looked to the sink, and the others seemed to understand. Melitta stepped back to join Callias, before they both migrated to seats in Kain's room. The moment they were gone, Kain forced himself to his feet and stepped over to the water basin. It took him a few minutes, but soon he had freshened up and rejoined the others in his room.

"What happened with the queen mother?" Kain asked as he sat.

He knew that returning to the topic of Del's death was most likely the best starting point for further discussion, but his stomach still twisted from stress. And it wasn't as if talking about it would change the rumors they had heard. In the end, what they were facing at the moment was much more important than Kain's nerves.

Melitta frowned. As if giving herself moments to think, she crossed one leg over the other, before settling her folded hands over her knee. She opened her mouth, as if ready to talk, before grimacing and looking at Callias.

"Since you were there, could you watch the door?" she asked.

Seeming to understand her train of thought, Callias nodded and walked over to the door out into the hall. He leaned his back against it, arms folded over his chest. At first Kain was confused, but then he realized with how strong the merfolk's hearing was, Callias would know if anyone was on the other side simply by the beating of their heart. There was no hiding from a merfolk's ears.

"The summons came early this morning after you left to look for Mara. Thankfully, while she was requesting me, she had tagged on that I could bring a companion if I desired," Melitta paused and furrowed her brow before continuing. "I say me, but I think she likely told her servant to deliver the invitation to the room attached to yours and not a person in particular."

Kain grimaced. "I suspected as much."

The real question was if she had been wanting to talk to Melitta his "partner," or Melitta the "future queen."

"The event was nothing special at first," Melitta continued. "Except, perhaps, that we were the only attendees. But, in the grand scheme even that is not all that unreasonable given my potential status. If we stayed too long, my presence could upset the balance of power among the ladies, so knowing my face would be important, and setting up tea for two people is easier than a group, even if a group setting is less odd."

"You said at first," Kain observed.

She nodded. "It was once the conversation started that I realized something was off. She asked about you, of course, and I stuck to the story we had weaved last night, but as soon as that was finished, she focused on Rhode."

Kain swore, then flushed. "Sorry, I--"

"No, I felt the same," Melitta interrupted with a faint laugh. "It is lucky that I remember court despite how long it has been. I kept that reaction internal, and tried to sidestep her questions without being suspicious. I think she caught on regardless, because she stopped talking for a moment to wave out her servants, then just bluntly asked about Rhode's identity."

It was only the knowledge that if the conversation had gone sour the consequences would have already been known that kept Kain from interrupting. As it was, his hands curled tight into the arms of his seat, entire body taut with anticipation.

"I tried to refute the idea, but she must have spies in the guest wing, because she detailed Rhode's exact, true description, down to the fact she's a siren, before pulling out a portrait of Asha and pushing it across the table. At that point I wasn't sure what to do, and before I could think of how to reply, she pointed out that if she wanted to harm Asha, she would have already done so."

"Why wouldn't she want to harm her?" Kain questioned. "Akaikos was her son, wasn't he?"

Melitta nodded, expression turning grim. "I think...the queen mother has a different opinion of how things unraveled that day than the public story."

Kain's eyes widened. "Did she say as much?"

"No, but..." Melitta hesitated, dropping her hands from her knees. "She stopped the conversation there, saying my silence was confirmation enough, before she changed the topic entirely. She started talking about the family line, Eol's neutrality, and how delicate the balance of the country was. It was as confusing as it sounds."

"It was nobility talk," Callias added from the door.

Melitta grimaced. "Which I'm a bit out of touch with. The exact second meaning in most of that conversation went over my head, but the last topic was clear enough. She suddenly started talking about the library and how fascinating the royal archive was. Then suggested we take a look."

"Wouldn't that require clearance?" Kain asked.

He wasn't sure about how the matter was handled in Eol, but he knew that the archive in Cieon, the royal one at least, was only able to be accessed by those with appropriate positions. The information was sometimes too important to be handled by just anyone.

"That's where it got even more questionable," Melitta explained. "She started talking about how she requested the archive director to hand deliver, then examine documents with her over the next week, and how worried she was about how secure it would be while they were gone. It seems Alekos doesn't care all that much about the library."

As the words sunk in, Kain's heart began to race.

"She wants us to break in," he breathed.

As shaky and uncertain as the situation was, he had to admit it was tempting. He had wanted to learn more about Rhode, or more accurately Asha, while they were here. And if the queen mother herself was encouraging them to do so, while overlooking Rhode's presence...

"I think so," Melitta agreed. "And while it is a risk, I think we should take it."

Kain hesitated. "If we're caught, we'll be put back in the dungeons. There will be no talking our way out of it."

"But, it has to be worth it, does it not?" Melitta asked. "If she is going out of her way to give us this opportunity, there has to be something to see in those records."

If the queen mother wasn't turning Rhode in, that something had to be to Rhode's benefit. At least, it had to be if they weren't being led into an elaborate trap. But, what benefit was there in allowing them into the archive and then betraying them? Just Rhode's presence, when discovered, was enough reason to have them executed. There was no need for schemes.

What if whatever they might see could clear Rhode's name? Or, at least explain how someone like her committed such a crime?

Melitta was right. The risk was worth it.

"Have you talked to Rhode about it?" he asked. "What does she think?"

"I have not had the chance," Melitta replied, shaking her head. "After we returned, I had to ready for dinner. There was no way to slip to her room without drawing unwanted attention."

Ultimately, it had to be up to Rhode. If she didn't want to know what laid in the archive, or if she didn't want them to know, it was her past. He wouldn't argue her choice.

"One of us should ask her in the morning," Kain decided. "Or, after we're done talking. It wouldn't be odd for you to call a personal servant to prepare you for bed."

"It wouldn't," Melitta agreed. "If she agrees, though..."

"I think we should do it."

"As do I." She pushed hair behind her ear, before her expression turned thoughtful once again. "That is all on that matter. Did you find Mara?"

"I did."

Kain launched into an explanation of his encounter with Mara, and her servant, before detailing their trip out into the city. Melitta didn't interrupt while he talked, although he could tell from her expression that Mara's account of Kyril settled as well with her as it had with him.

"I want to help her," Kain finished. "But, I don't think...I'm not sure she wants our help. She refused to let Isidor examine her."

Melitta rubbed her hand against her forearms, expression turning impossible to decipher. "It could be pride. It wouldn't be the first time a noblewoman like her refused a doctor out of shame of her position."

"But we already know what is going on," Kain argued. "I don't think it would be something so simple as pride. Also, her servant...something is off there. Mara seemed to be taking instructions from her rather than giving them."

"You're right that it sounds odd," Melitta agreed, then paused. She let silence settle in the room for a moment, before giving a slow sigh. Somehow, it felt like the weight of the world had been exhaled with her breath. "I think...you're right to want to help her, but until she asks, we should not interfere."

"But--"

"Kyril already wants your head, Kain," Melitta interrupted. "As noble as it is to want to help Mara, further involving yourself will only anger him and make our situation here more impossible. When added to the fact she has implied an intention to stay in her position, regardless of the abuse, helping her might not go as you think. She might side with him."

The truth hurt.

Perhaps because it was the truth.

Mara's response to his request that she ask them for help if needed had bordered a gentle rejection. Melitta wasn't wrong in suggesting she might oppose them if his attempts to assist her drew public attention. Still. It felt wrong to ignore what was happening in front of them.

As if reading Kain's mind, Melitta's expression grew gentle.

"Wait until after the trial, Kain. Once Kyril's guilt has been proven, aiding her will be easier. It will be two weeks, and until then, he'll be under the scrutiny of the peerage. I'm not saying he can't hurt her, as there are always ways, but he won't be able to keep her out of the public eye without drawing attention, nor will he want to risk the public being unable to deny what is happening. It would harm his own chances in trial."

Two weeks.

Kain's nails dug into his palms. Anything could happen in two weeks.

"I'll wait," he decided aloud. His heart ached, but Melitta was right. The situation was entirely too precarious. "But, if things can't be solved then. If he comes out of the trial unscathed...

"I'll challenge Kyril to a duel." 

A/N: Fun fact, I finished this chapter the day after I posted the last! Yay for important scenes being easy to write. 

Not a lot of action happened this chapter, but there was a lot uncovered. Do you think they're right to take the potential bait laid by the queen mother? Any thoughts on what they might find? Is keeping quiet about Semele the right thing?

Any thoughts on their decision to wait? Think Kain'll manage to keep from interfering for that long? 

See you next week!