"We're not the palace guard." Ainslee grumbled under her breath as they left the Commander's office, stepping out into the calm weather. It was that sort of weather in late spring where summer was trying to nudge it's warm nose in, though Blayre was thankful for the cloud cover that would have made these black outfits hell to wear otherwise.
Ainslee wasn't typically the one to question authority - that was usually Fletcher's book of business. But Blayre knew why. She had seen her friend's glee at receiving the letters from Seaver that had accumulated during the time they had been away. She supposed she should give the other woman space to sort through those emotions - a long distance relationship was a challenge. Though Blayre's only experience with such a thing so far had been in her teenage years when she'd had to leave a suitor from the schooling year back in the capital for the duration of summer.
But this was their job. It wasn't acceptable for her to be allowing a relationship to get in the way of her dedication to their service.
If Blayre could rein in her emotions where Rory was concerned, Ainslee could do the same.
"It will pass by in a blur, Ains." Blayre reassured her. "Soon enough we will be back on the road. Back in Mountainvale." She tried to keep the note out of her voice, bitter as the kind of ale her father liked so much.
Fletcher looked into her eyes and gave her a sympathetic nod, though Ainslee pressed on, "I know, but I'm tired of this. I feel like we're being used for something - not right. We should be solving this. And we're only a fraction closer after that trip to port roubeles. Even that just felt like an excuse to use us as guards."
So maybe this wasn't just about her brother. Blayre released an intake of breath. "I know." She glanced down at the dirt and stones beneath her feet as they walked through the training yard. The clack of weapons as soldiers and others practiced. Something she desperately needed to do while she was here, she reminded herself. She was probably getting rusty, even though they'd stuck to their warm ups on the road. And also indulged in a lot of poor food choices as well.
"But sometimes we can't change the circumstances that surround us - and this is one of those situations. A terrible situation. That we just have to help with best we can."
"The entire kingdom is in mourning." Fletcher put in.
"Yes, but-"
Blayre cut her off "How about a go in the yard?" She motioned to the swordplay going on in the yard ahead. "We could all use a bit of practice." And a way to release some of this tension, she added to herself.
Blayre felt rather than saw her brother enter the training grounds later that day. Seaver only had a trace of magic, but as children they had worked out a system where he would send out a spurt of magic to alert her that he was nearby - most often to warn her of her stepmother's presence when they were up to no good. He came into view as she strode across the stableyard after a riding session with Dove, mud splattering her dark clothing.
"Seaver!" She yelled to him. He looked up from his great black horse. Grinning brightly, he swiftly dismounted, handed the reins over to one of the hostlers and opened his arms so his sister could to crash into him for an embrace, heedless of the dirt.
"You smell like the mountains." She murmured into his chest, breathing in deeply.
His chest rumbled against her cheek as he chuckled, "Does Blumore smell that unpleasant to you?"
She pulled back and bared her teeth at him. "Well, there's certainly something disagreeable about your scent, but for the most part, you just smell like home." Her voice hitched a bit at the last word - a word that she tried hard not to associate with Blumore.
But Seaver regarded it as home, and he was one of those people in her life that made any place worthwhile.
He put his hands on her shoulders "How has everything been here, given the circumstances?" A muscle twitched in his jaw.
Blayre heaved a sigh, turning away from his embrace to lead him through the yard. Her mind raced through the events that had passed since she'd last seen him at Blumore. She glanced around the commons, it was too quiet for private conversation. "Can we talk about it somewhere else?"
Seaver nodded in understanding. "Do you think that you could come with me to the Divine Sword tonight? Drinks and a meal on me?" He ruffled her hair and she scrunched her nose, reaching to smooth it out again. "Sure, but Ainslee is going to want to see you. Are you hiding from her? She didn't seem to know you were coming from your letters."
He sighed, long and tired, "Well, I hardly planned for his majesty to pass. Someone needed to represent the estate, and Father was about to leave on a trade trip across the mountain. I had no knowledge whether your triad would be here or traipsing halfway across the kingdom right now." He smiled grimly. "But ... don't tell her yet. I'd like to surprise her." He said.
Blayre raised an eyebrow, "As you wish, but if she finds out I knew, and didn't tell her, she's going to be livid."
Seaver grinned wickedly and patted his horse's neck. "Your problem, not mine."
While the sun was beginning its descent, Blayre met Seaver outside and walked with him to the palace gates. She took a deep breath of the cool spring air as they left the palace and stepped into the main road of the city. In this section of town, closest to the Palace walls, lived the upper class. The main road was home to upscale shops and vendors. On various side streets were exquisite townhomes owned by the nobility and richer merchant class.
Mid-town, where most of the working class spent their time, was not as lavish as uptown. While not as rough and rowdy as the low-town folks, the middle class were not as gossipy as the gentry that could be found in places like the Dragon Room.
Plus the food was more plentiful, Blayre thought, thinking of the elaborate, but finely portioned meals they had been served at the royal town house in Port Roubeles.
Blayre and Seaver found a table in a corner and Seaver ordered an ale from the barmaid. Blayre ordered a cider and while they waited, Seaver reported on the goings on back in Blumore, steering clear of any potentially inflammatory mention of Lady Marianna.
"So what's this assignment that you wanted to avoid discussing around curious ears?" He finally asked, voice low, once the barmaid had brought their drinks and moved out of earshot.
The murmur of voices around them was loud enough that if they spoke in low tones, it was unlikely anyone would hear. She prayed they wouldn't. She felt safer here in the open, than she would speaking in a quiet room - especially after her experience with the mage Colman on the trip back from Port Roubeles. It was much easier to hide in plain sight. She told her brother of the impromptu trip with Rory on the way back from Mountainvale, and the events that had unfurled in the time afterward - conveniently leaving out Rorrick's romantic advancements.
Seaver leaned back and let out a low whistle, rubbing at the black stubble that was growing in on his chin. "Those are both big responsibilities - protecting the royal family, and then coming back to Mountainvale - though I can't say I'm too disappointed about that." He grinned. "It will be nice to be able to see you a bit more regularly." He tweaked her nose.
"And Ainslee?" Blayre raised an eyebrow in question.
Her brother grinned again as they were interrupted by the serving girl who placed warm plates of food in front of them. "Perhaps." He said, and it was impossible to mistake the blush that flushed across his cheekbones, despite the dim lighting of the room.
They began to dig into their food, exchanging the same jabs and jokes that had been plentiful in their childhood. Once they had finished, Blayre folded her napkin on the table and leaned back. "I have something else to confess," she said, voice lowered again. "Nuala discovered my Gift."
Seaver's look turned serious. "How?" was all he said.
"Nuala was divulging some sensitive information and I could sense someone outside the door. Naturally she was suspicious when I flung open the door and held someone at knife-point. And the way she looked at me it was like she had maybe had her suspicions before."
"Can she be trusted?" her brother asked.
"Can anyone be trusted?" Blayre countered. "It's been drilled into me my whole life to keep as many unaware of my gift as possible. She didn't tell Holt, or at least he didn't divulge that that was why he's asked my triad to take on these roles."
Her brother tapped a finger on on the lip of his glass, in thought, but said nothing. His gray wolf ring reflected the bits of light from the room. "Seven hells." He cursed.
"It will be fine." Blayre said adamantly, straightening in her chair. "If she hasn't spread it around by now, she won't. Besides, it was bound to come out eventually. I can't spend my entire life pretending that it doesn't exist."
"That's true," Seaver said carefully. "But I would still err on the side of caution. Perhaps you should speak with Nuala again regarding the matter. I don't want to see you harmed in anyway, Blayre. These are trying times here in the capital and a danger to the royal family could be a danger to you as well if they knew.
"It will be fine, I'm sure. It will be good to have someone that experienced know and be able to give me advice on how to use it properly if she can. But I'll speak with her about it." She forced confidence into her voice, but deep down she could feel the nervousness creeping in.
How much longer would she be able to hide in plain sight?