While I was standing trial in the court building, I had left Oleander at the Prince Malte's Honour inn. Back home at the Thundercoast, Oleander had a tendency to wander off on his own if he felt a reason to. I was grateful to see he didn't do that here, and seemed to realise how dangerous it was for him to stray inside the city walls.

As Ariane, Endris, and I walked into the common room, Oleander sat at the table nursing a glass of water. He stood abruptly when he saw me enter, almost knocking over his drink. This behaviour was uncharacteristically clumsy of Oleander, and I fought the smile tugging at my lips. I could barely stop myself from smiling regardless whenever I looked at him after last night. We had to behave properly in public, however. I didn't want to aggravate Ariane by having rumours of my indecency spreading in the streets of Wildewall. Especially not after we sort of got along for the first time inside the court building.

Oleander seemed to have the same problem I did. There was a sparkle in his eye, but he compensated for it by looking at me with a frown so deep it crinkled his forehead. "Welcome back, lord Montbow," he spoke politely. "How did the trial go?"

I glanced at the innkeeper standing behind the bar. He appeared busy dunking mugs in water and scraping leftovers off of plates, but that didn't stop him from listening at everything going on in his inn. The walls had ears here, and I was highly aware of it. "The trial went fine, Oleander, thank you," I lied. "We'll await the innocent verdict while we prepare for the queen's ball tomorrow. I wish to visit the bathhouse today."

I turned to Ariane. "Is there anything else you need of me today before I take off?"

Ariane's eyebrows twitched. Then she shook her head and smiled brightly. "No, we have discussed everything we need to discuss today, love. Oh, but do behave yourself with the gentlefolks in the bathhouse. And with anyone else you may speak with today."

Ariane's chirping may have sounded like a doting betrothed teasing her beloved to anyone listening, but I knew she was warning me. Ezra was...particular, and it was best I didn't cross him and neither should Oleander.

"I lack your effortless grace, of course. But I'll make sure we all behave," I said with a forced smile.

Ariane hummed. "Good. I will see you before the queen's ball tomorrow, Laurence," she said, twirling her red hair around a finger like a lovesick woman. "Do let me know when the judge gives her verdict."

The way Ariane could so easily alternate between loving betrothed in front of others and cynical in private would have made me laugh if it didn't frighten me in equal measure. In order to survive in Wildewall, however, it was clear to me now I had to play Wildewall's game, too. If I wanted to bring this visit to a good ending, I couldn't afford to ignore the hierarchy and rules of this place any further.

As Ariane left the inn's common room, I put what I had learned in Brittleton's castle into practice. Even if acting like a snobby god-touched who couldn't even change his own clothes made me almost physically cringe. 

"I will change before heading into the city. Oleander, Endris," I said. I snapped my fingers and started walking towards the staircase.

Neither Oleander nor Endris seemed to take my sudden attitude seriously. Endris was unfazed and unblinking as he followed me. Oleander pressed his lips together. His cheeks flushed with effort as he seemed to hold back his laughter. His reaction was contagious, and I had to hold back my laughter as well, until we reached the door of my chambers. There was nobody stationed at my door; Ariane seemed to have dismissed the cavalry for now.

My room was one of the few places where Oleander, Endris, and I could hope to speak in private, but I had failed to take one thing into account. The nightstand. Immediately, Endris' dark eyes shot to the knife and the green fruit dripping on wood beside the bed. My face grew hot. Endris was no fool. He knew what that fruit was used for.

Thankfully, Endris allowed me to keep my secrets and my dignity. He only looked, but didn't speak as I hastily closed the door behind me.

"We're certain there's nobody listening in here?" I asked Endris in a hushed tone.

Endris narrowed his eyes. He searched the room, looking out of the windows, rapping his knuckles on walls, opening the large closet, and peeking into the bathing area. Once he seemed satisfied, he returned to me. "There's nobody listening," he said.

"Alright." I swallowed thickly as I looked at Oleander. "There's someone who wants to speak with you in private. Ezra Dagon. He asked if you could come see him at your first convenience." I turned to Endris. "I know what you're going to say, Endris," I said before he could open his mouth. "Master Dagon can't talk to Oleander because he'll recognise what he is."

Endris' expression darkened. "If master Dagon hasn't already noticed in the library. Knowing Oleander is an elf could well be the very reason he wants to see him. To rip off his hat and confirm what he already knows before sending him to priest Landefort for execution."

"Did master Dagon mention why he wishes to speak with me, Laurence?" Oleander asked softly. "What does he believe I can do for him?"

"Many things, if he knows you're an elf. He's a historian who dedicated his life to studying elven culture and history," Endris said through gritted teeth. "An elf who didn't vanish? You would be a dream come true for him."

"That's not what he wanted," I said. "He wants Oleander's knowledge of poisons and antidotes. Or so he claims. I don't know if those are false pretences or not."

Oleander blinked. "Well, do... you want me to tell him everything I still remember of poisons and antidotes, Laurence? I will, if you ask it of me."

Oleander looked at me for guidance, but I didn't have any to offer. If Ezra was genuine, it felt wrong to deny him knowledge on how to save lives. I had to think of my family, however. We needed Oleander's recipes, and we needed to be the only ones selling rare antidotes to keep ourselves afloat. It wasn't my decision to take, however, even if Oleander wanted me to decide.

"They're your antidotes, Oleander," I said. "Your knowledge. I'm grateful for everything you did for me and my family, but you decide who you share your recipes with. Not me. We have to act like it in within the city walls, but you're not my servant."

Endris expelled a deep sigh, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Why are we entertaining the thought of allowing master Dagon to speak with Oleander in the first place? Decline and say it's not possible to arrange a meeting."

I smiled sheepishly. "I would have done that. The problem is, master Dagon was part of the judge's council, right? He seems to have them in the bag and his demand for not selling me out and declaring the Montbow family guilty of Ytel's murder was to speak with Oleander. If I decline, one of my family members will be declared the culprit and will have to hang."

Endris cursed under his breath. "Of course he did. That's why he whispered to the judge. Shrewd old coot."

"You are familiar with his work, too, then?" I asked. "Ariane also said master Dagon had a talent for making the odds in his favour."

"Yes," Endris said. "And you never know what he wants. He climbed his way up to being the official palace historian by skullduggery and elbowing, but never quite so you could prove it."

"Master Dagon has ties to the palace?" Oleander asked, sounding surprised.

Endris nodded. "Yes. He resides in one of the towers as the court historian. He used his influence and knowledge about elves to also weasel his way into council positions for trials. Originally, he was only invited for trials involving accusations of whither-touched. A traditionally known branch of elven magic. Now, he also receives invitations to higher profile trials like lord Montbow's."

Ezra Dagon sounded dangerous. I didn't want to expose Oleander to a man like that, but what choice did I have? I sighed. "I don't want any of my family members hanged, Endris," I said. "Nor do I want Oleander executed when master Dagon finds out. I don't know what we should do."

"Is there nobody else who can sway the judge and grant you an innocent verdict?" Oleander asked. "Like the queen. Surely she outranks everyone? We could travel to the palace and try to have an audience with her first. She already summoned us to Wildewall because she wished to speak with us, no?"

"She wants to speak to you and lord Montbow, and everyone else. It's the queen's duty to speak with all her guests at a ball, Oleander," Endris replied. "She outranks everyone, yes, but they're not letting us walk into the palace and speak with her outside of the ball. The only reason we will be able to enter the palace at all today is because master Dagon expects you."

"Oh," Oleander breathed. "But is the queen present inside the castle right now? We could always get lucky."

"We won't be lucky," Endris deadpanned.

I wanted to protest and defend Oleander's idea, but realised I couldn't. Being granted an audience with the queen herself a day before her ball sounded like a highly unlikely tale. I let out a frustrated sound. "I could tell master Dagon the first possibility to speak with you is after the ball. I can tell him to wait, and hope we can convince the queen to let the Montbow family go while at the ball."

"You could, however..." Oleander bit his lip. "If master Dagon is as clever as Endris says he is, he will know what you are doing. It's alright, Laurence. I will risk speaking with him if that means I can prevent you from being accused of murder."

"But—" I started protesting. Oleander stopped me by raising a hand. "Please, let me do this for you. You have saved my life as well. Let me save your family in return."

"You have already more than repaid us by sharing your knowledge," I said. "You don't owe me."

A smile curled up the corners of Oleander's mouth. "Do you remember why I wanted to come to Wildewall?"

"Because I'd be in trouble with the court if I didn't bring you," I replied promptly.

Oleander chuckled. "Yes," he said. "To help you, like you have helped me. My second reason was because I hoped to regain some of my memories. In order to do that, I wanted to read at the library and I wanted to see the palace and meet the queen as well."

Oleander's burden was much heavier than mine. The Montbows had lost their family fortune, but Oleander had lost his entire life in the mountains. In all the commotion surrounding knight commander Ytel's death and the queen's ball, I had forgotten all about Oleander's needs. Guilt stabbed at my chest. Endris and I had dragged him out of the library, not taking his wishes into consideration much to keep him safe inside the city. If there was a chance he could regain more memories, I understood Oleander wanted to take it. 

"You wanted to meet the queen because of the staff she carries, which is adorned with an elven-made gem," I thought out loud.

Oleander nodded. "You remember. I think seeing it may help me remember something of my past. I don't know if it works that way, but I remembered how to make an antidote in a flash when I saw the flowers growing in vines on the mansion walls and smelled the Bleeding Ivy's leaves. Besides..." Oleander let his gaze glide from me to Endris." I will be forced to visit the palace tomorrow for the ball. There will be many people present who could see me for who I am. Today, the palace will be much quieter. I won't garner attention. If there is a slight chance I could silently meet the queen with no additional eyes on me, and not attend the ball tomorrow, don't we need to take it?"

Endris grimaced. He didn't open his mouth, however, because Oleander had a good point. Every public appearance he made was a risk, and among the nobility visiting the ball, there would be more scholars like master Dagon.

Oleander settled his eyes back on me. "There's a guarantee they will find the Montbow family guilty of murder if we don't give master Dagon what he wants. But there is no guarantee master Dagon wants to harm me or recognised me. Perhaps he truly only wants information."

"Have you not been paying attention at all?" Endris scoffed. "Everyone in this city tries to harm elves! They cut down even people suspected of having a drop of elven blood like dogs in front of the temples!"

"Have a little faith, Endris," Oleander replied with a small smile. "Not everyone. You and Laurence have protected me. You protect all the elven blooded and undesirables."

"Don't assume master Dagon thinks the same," Endris sharply retorted. "He will just as easily turn you in, depending on what he wants. He's unpredictable."

"I understand the risks," Oleander said. "But I'll speak with him."

"I've known you longer than today, and you're not going to change your mind, are you?" I joked wryly. "I know that look in your eyes." 

Oleander smiled at me. 

"Let us go to master Dagon's tower then," I said.

"Wait," Oleander said as I made for the door.

I looked over my shoulder. "What?"

"Shouldn't you actually change your clothes like you said?" Oleander teased me with a wink. "What will the staff think?"

I looked down at the ridiculous clothes I wore. I'd already forgotten I looked like a walking jewellery store. Sounded like one, too. "Yes."

"Do you need my help to change into other clothes, lord Montbow?" Oleander teased me further.

Endris groaned and pulled a face. "I'm waiting downstairs. Before I lose my lunch." He abruptly marched to the door and slammed the door shut behind him.

Oleander and I looked at each other and laughed. Then Oleander's smile faded as I closed the distance between us and pressed a kiss to his lips. 

"What have I done to deserve you?" I murmured to his mouth, before pulling him into a hug and burying my face in the crook of his neck.

"I don't know," Oleander muttered back.

"Whatever happens, I'm not letting master Dagon or anyone else hurt you."

Oleander didn't respond, making me lean back to look at him. His eyes were trained on the bed and nightstand behind me, but he turned his gaze to me as I searched his face. He was no longer smiling. There was a flicker of sadness in his eyes, but it was gone so fast I wondered if I'd imagined it. 

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Laurence Montbow," Oleander said. "Nobody can protect everyone."

Oleander grabbed my arms and gently freed himself from my grasp. "Change your clothes. We shouldn't delay."