Heirs of Hyarch

Myronel found it quite impressive Edeline didn't lash out with fury in response to what Lord Melyn had just told them.

He wasn't all that happy himself, but there was nothing he could say without giving away who he was. That was to their advantage, as Lord Melyn clearly did not think Edeline well informed of the current situation. It did raise a question as to why, and Myronel hoped the answer was not what his first thought pointed towards.

"I see," Edeline said after a long moment, "What proof do you have of this?"

"We had a man present there when you were born. It was prudent to keep watch on the Princess Splendora, and her retinue likely had a number of men and women who worked for various nobles. Of course, the Spellking likely also had one. At least, that's how I think he found where she fled to, and what let to the attack that wounded her."

Lord Hallowscroft, it seemed, had not been nearly as vigilant as he should have. Myronel supposed that his affair with the princess may have blinded him, but there was no way of them knowing. He could not be too judgmental of their father, since despite any mistakes those choices did clear the path for him and Edeline to end up here.

"We?" Edeline asked.

"What I tell you must be kept in confidence." Lord Melyn leaned closer to her. "There are those among the nobility who recognize that King Roderick, now aged, is only bringing ruin to Hyarch by continuing the war against the Spellking. Whatever lands their line has taken are not reclaimable, at least not in the span of our lives. We need a head with wisdom wearing the crown."

"Do you truly believe I have such wisdom?" Edeline pointed out.

"I mean no offense when I tell you that you do not. You were never prepared for the burden of the throne. But as someone who bears the royal blood, you are perfectly capable of bringing forth a child who could be raised and trained for the task. A true heir to the Ruby Crown, who could lead Hyarch into a new age of peace and wealth."

Myronel should not be surprised - truly ought not be surprised - but it still felt like he'd been stabbed. The worst of it all, looking back at who he was and what he'd been, is that there had been a time when he would've encouraged his sister to agree to such an arrangement. The past year had changed him so much, just as much as it had changed Edeline.

"To do this, we had to arrange matters without drawing the king's attention. For years, we worked in secrecy to line up everything so you could be married to a young noble who was in on the plan. We had multiple possibilities for that, and everything was proceeding well. But as we were about to move to the next step, and actually offer the marriage...a year ago, our man in Hallowscroft stopped sending word."

"Who was this man of yours?" Edeline narrowed her eyes.

"A man named Linos. He was part of Hallowscroft's guard, and well positioned to keep us informed."

Captain Linos, of all people? Of all the men Myronel would've thought they could trust, the ever-serious and steady Linos would have been up there. His father had clearly felt the same, both by promoting him to captain and letting him be one of the ones to help teach Myronel how to wield weapons.

At least they knew what had became of Linos. He had fallen victim, along with so many of the town watch, to Kalvarel's vile spells of control. It was Linos who had been there when Kalvarel had ensnared Myronel himself with the same spell. Edeline, not being fully aware of the threat at the time, had been forced to end Linos's life with her blade.

"He was one of the men lost when the Spellking's agent made his attempt," Edeline confirmed.

"A dreadful loss, but at least that explains the matter," Lord Melyn said, "Although it left us with little faith in our plan. We have risked so much, between putting our men in place and removing those who are loyal to the current kings, and it had seemed for nothing. But with you now here...safe and whole...we can proceed."

Heavy silence hung between all of them for a long moment. "So if I refuse, you would not send that aid for the survivors of Lasfont."

"My duty would be to aid them regardless, but why would you refuse?" Lord Melyn straightened, holding himself oddly stiff. "As far as we know, you are the last living Pelagoin. And with your father aged and brother dead, you are also the only heir to the seat of Hallowscroft. If you have any desire to continue either bloodline, it only follows that you would submit. Think of it. Your name, written in the tomes of history as the savior of the Pelagoins, and of Hyarch itself!"

Edeline simply said nothing, regarding the lord coldly. Myronel did not blame her.

"Aether's blood, I'm still no good at convincing people." Lord Melyn turned and stared at a blank spot on the wall. Another location where a portrait had once hung, Myronel realized. "I understand if you think you would rather be pursuing something else. I wasn't always set to become lord myself. That would've been my older brother, who would've been a far better leader. But...he was led astray, and ended up dead for it. So here I am, and here you are."

"It is a shame your brother is not here," Edeline said softly, but not without a sideways glance in Myronel's direction. He readied himself accordingly.

"We cannot bring back those who are gone. All we can do is carry on with whatever legacy they have left for us. And so...you know your legacy now. Please, lend yourself to our cause."

Edeline took a deep breath. "I am afraid I must apologize..." She trailed off, watching Lord Melyn's face closely. "...for my deception," she finished.

"Deception?" Lord Melyn drew back.

"I came here very heavily suspecting that I was the daughter of Princess Splendora. You have indeed confirmed it for me beyond any doubt, and I thank you for that."

"So you did not trust me," Lord Melyn said, stopping for a second to rub his chin. "I should've realized you would try to hide such without knowing where I stood. I in turn apologize for believing you entirely unaware."

"That is also not the only matter I have kept hidden from you," Edeline replied, "I believe my companion here can explain it better than I can. You may introduce yourself."

Myronel did not hesitate. "My name is Myronel. A pleasure to meet you."

It took several seconds for the realization to set in, but the look on Lord Melyn's face when it did was almost comical. His skin grew pale as ash, his mouth hung open, and his eyes widened to an impossible size. Myronel know he would remember that face for years to come.

"That's...that cannot be possible. We were...how are you here? Alive?"

"I would've died too if it were not for a healer's efforts." Myronel didn't intend to downplay everything Nela had done for him, but given the lord's earlier response to him being an elf, it would be better to keep her presence and identity a secret. "But the bigger concern I have is how so many came to believe I fell in battle. Many other men of the kingdom can verify my words, as they saw me after the slaughter that claimed so many."

This was the crucial point he had wanted to know the truth of. Any messages sent back by the knights or lords - some of which he had met with - would've confirmed that Myron Hallowscroft had survived. It would be one matter to conceal his death to accomplish some end, but Lord Melyn's reaction told Myronel they had genuinely believed him gone.

"No...we..." Lord Melyn suddenly laughed in bitterness. "Aether's blood, we fooled ourselves."

"What do you mean by that?" Edeline demanded.

"It was Lord Winterscroft's plan." Lord Melyn started to speak rapidly. "He had learned of the defeat before anyone, and had his agents there to disrupt any missives and letters sent back, to delay word and response. We agreed it would weaken the king, but it worked against us this time. And you must understand our side of this. Since...if your brother was dead, it also meant one less loyalist near you to influence you. Being part of the royal knights, we couldn't trust him...I mean, you."

"Good to know I was mourned so widely," was all Myronel could think to say, a dark joke against the bleak reality of the situation. It made sense if you thought about in terms of alliances and treachery. But there was personal loyalty as well, and Myronel knew with no doubt he would...no, he could not even say that. After all, his plan on returning to Hallowscroft was to hand off any and all responsibility to his sister.

That plan would have forced Edeline to face all of this on her own.

"You mean Lord Alecenor Winterscroft, correct?" Edeline asked. She started to raise one hand to her head, then lowered it again.

"That's right. Have you met him?"

"No, but he did send a letter informing my family of my brother's supposed death." Edeline clearly remembered that detail, which was good because it had slipped Myronel's mind.

"I will not speak to his intent, but I assume it was done with our plan in mind," Lord Melyn said defensively.

"What good is this plan if you all keep fumbling in the dark?" Edeline's patience had run out. "Even setting aside your lack of consideration of my wishes, why should I trust in this when each of you does not know what the other is doing, and none of you know where the central figure in your design is currently at?"

"Would you rather us do nothing and watch the kingdom fall to the Spellking's design?" Lord Melyn's own temper was rising, his face now reddening to match it. "I may not be a great lord or a great leader, but even I can see what the future holds if we refuse to act!"

"Well, I agree that doing nothing is not an option." Myronel decided to intervene before this turned into a bout of shouting that everyone could hear. "But waiting years for this supposed heir to be born and come of age is refusing to act. The common folk who are struggling will not wait. The Spellking will not wait. Whoever you want to take the throne and save Hyarch must be ready now."

"Change doesn't come so quickly and easily," Lord Melyn answered.

"Change will come to this kingdom quickly regardless. The only question is if you will be in control of that change." Myronel rose to his feet. "However, I see no point in arguing further. We have delivered our request, and the fate of the survivors of Lasfont is now in your hands."

"Very well. I will arrange their aid. But I must insist that you stay here under my protection."

Edeline sighed. "I must decline, as I suspect nowhere in Melyn is presently safe. Besides, I did come here with other capable companions. If the royal knights do manage to find us...I will simply say there will be a surprise awaiting."

"Are you certain?" Lord Melyn said, his face now back to a more normal hue. "I suppose with the royal knights occasionally visiting me, I could hardly hold you here. I assume you are discretely lodged somewhere in the city. Very well then. Just...do consider my offer. I doubt there is any other plan that would save Hyarch."

Perhaps it could not be saved, Myronel thought. Instead of saying that, though, he settled for the Elefae parting words. "May the grace and glory of the Fae be with you."

"Oh, uh..." Lord Melyn was caught off-guard. "Right, I suppose the same for you. Though...just why did you choose to become an elf?"

"It is quite simple." Myronel didn't owe the lord any explanation, so he might as well word it mysteriously. "It is because an elf chose me." Nela would definitely appreciate that when he told her.

Puzzled, Lord Melyn just stared at him.

"Thank you for the audience," Edeline said in turn, "If you do not mind, could you have one of your men see us out?"

"Of course." Lord Melyn started for the study's door, only to come to a halt halfway there. "Do try to stay safe. No matter what you think, Hyarch yet needs you."