Chapter 85: Advantages
The return journey took considerably longer than the outbound one.
Nathan drove the large cart with his usual efficiency. The two horses responded with the specific coordination of animals trained for generations. Liaraen traveled beside him on the driver’s seat or inside the cart resting on one of the foldable beds when the stretch was long.
They crossed the border without incident. Guardian Aeryn saw them off with formality, now with updated information about Nathan’s formal role. He handed Liaraen a small recognition letter from the post for her personal file.
Rendel received them on the second day. The innkeeper of The Crossing Rest recognized them. Nathan paid for two nights. They rested. No one mentioned Nathan’s name in the Magic Plaza this time, though he noticed two specifically attentive glances as they crossed town. He didn’t comment. They left on the third day.
Halloch received them after that. Renric also without comments. Just brief lodging.
And on the sixth day of the return, the cart descended the path toward Sareth.
Nathan had been specifically waiting for this stop throughout the entire journey.
And Liaraen had too.
Though for different reasons.
---
Sella was waiting for them at the settlement’s entrance.
Kalen beside her, with his staff in his left hand, with his usual calm.
Vera behind them, at the communal house door, with a small formal smile.
Nathan stopped the cart ten meters from the entrance.
Sella ran.
With her usual energy but amplified by weeks of waiting. Her silver hair loose in the wind. A short summer dress she’d apparently chosen for the occasion. And a broad smile without any filter.
She reached the driver’s seat side.
"Nathan!"
"Sella."
"You came back!"
"I came back."
"With Liaraen!"
"With Liaraen."
"And with a new cart!"
"With a new cart."
"And apparently a full wardrobe!"
Liaraen looked at her from the seat with her aristocratic posture fully restored.
"How do you know?"
"Kalen. The paths."
"Understood."
Sella looked at Nathan.
"Get down. Get down now... you too, Liaraen."
Nathan got down.
Liaraen got down as well.
Sella hugged both of them simultaneously. A big hug, without aristocratic coordination, with the naturalness of a girl who hadn’t seen her two favorite people in approximately three weeks.
Nathan received it, hugging her back.
Liaraen received it with the relaxed formality she’d developed over the past few weeks.
Then Sella let them go.
Kalen approached with his usual calm.
"Nathan. Liaraen. Welcome back."
"Kalen," Nathan replied. "I appreciate the reception."
"The possible paths predicted this arrival with ninety percent probability approximately six days ago."
"Understood."
"The large cart, however, was an unexpected variable. Apparently that indicates major circumstances arose during the time you were in Aelthoren."
"Correct."
"We’ll talk calmly. Inside."
Nathan nodded.
Vera approached from the communal house.
"Hunter Voss. Lady Sael’thoryn. Welcome. Dinner is being prepared. You can leave the cart in the back courtyard. The horses will be tended to."
"Thank you," Nathan replied.
They began walking toward the communal house.
Sella walked beside Nathan. Kalen beside Liaraen. Vera ahead.
And about halfway there, Sella spoke in a lower voice but with her energy maintained.
"Nathan."
"Yes."
"I need to talk to you before dinner."
"Alright."
"Alone."
Nathan looked at her.
"Sella."
"Alone, Nathan."
"Alright."
Liaraen, half a step behind, heard. Her posture adjusted slightly. But she didn’t comment.
Kalen inclined his head beside her. He spoke to her quietly.
"Liaraen."
"Yes, Kalen."
"The possible paths indicate that the conversation between Sella and Nathan is going to be brief but memorable."
Liaraen looked at him.
"Memorable?"
"Memorable."
"Should I be worried?"
"Depends on the definition."
"Understood."
They kept walking.
---
Sella led Nathan to a small clearing near the communal house.
Approximately five minutes after arriving in Sareth. With the excuse of showing him "something she’d made over the past few weeks." Vera, Liaraen, and Kalen stayed at the communal house preparing for dinner.
The clearing was small. Approximately ten meters in diameter. With a small young tree in the center that Sella had planted, according to her explanation, approximately the day after Nathan and Liaraen left for Aelthoren.
"It’s a cherry tree," Sella said. "Apparently in five years it’s going to bloom. Kalen says it looks very good in several possible paths."
"Understood."
"Nathan."
"Yes."
"Kalen told me what happened in Aelthoren."
Nathan looked at her.
"Everything?"
"The main points. Liaraen’s parents dead. Her sister missing. The mansion in ruins. The lineage sword found. And apparently the informal guardianship you assumed."
"Understood."
"And apparently the elven uncles misinterpreted the guardianship as something more romantic."
"Yeah... That was very weird."
"And apparently Liaraen didn’t correct them."
"Yeah, that too."
Sella looked at him for a full moment.
Then she said, in a specifically softer voice than she’d used before.
"Nathan."
"Yes."
"I’m going to go with you to Greywall soon."
Nathan looked at her.
"With us?"
"Yes. Not immediately. Kalen says I need to complete something here in Sareth first. But soon. Approximately in two or three months."
"Understood."
"And I’m going to integrate into the group. Into your life. Into what you’re building. Into everything."
"Not like I’m an architect, Sella."
"Nathan."
"Sorry, but okay."
"Alright."
Sella moved slightly closer.
With a broader smile. With her specific energy slightly different.
"Nathan."
"Yes."
"I know what Liaraen is planning."
Nathan looked at her.
"What is she planning?"
"Kalen didn’t give me the details. He only told me she has ten months until the elven major transition. And apparently she’s considering those ten months as her positioning opportunity."
"Sella."
"Yes."
"Liaraen isn’t planning any of that. We already talked about it. There are no romantic plans between her and me."
"Nathan."
"Yes."
"You don’t know anything about women. You haven’t asked Liaraen if she specifically shares that assessment."
Nathan looked at her.
*That hurt... wait.*
"Sella."
"Yes."
"Did Kalen tell you something specific about what Liaraen thinks?"
"Kalen didn’t tell me anything specific. He only told me the possible paths include developments between the two of you over the next ten months that don’t match the assessment you’re currently maintaining."
"Understood."
"And that gives me specific information about the situation."
"Understood."
Sella moved another step closer.
With her broad smile maintained.
"Nathan."
"Yes."
"I’m going to take advantage now."
Nathan looked at her.
"Advantage?"
"Advantage."
And without further warning, Sella stood on tiptoe.
And kissed Nathan on the lips.
Fast. Firm. Without hesitation.
About two seconds.
Then she pulled back.
With an even wider smile.
Nathan stood still for a full moment.
Externally, he maintained neutrality.
Internally, he sat processing.
*....*
*....*
*Ah.*
*Good.*
*It seems my level of attraction is immensely proportional to the amount of power I have.*
Sella stepped back two paces. Smiled even wider.
"Nathan."
"Sella."
"Now I have the advantage."
"Advantage?"
"Advantage. Yes. Because Liaraen’s uncles threatened you not to do anything improper with her until she’s eighteen. And apparently I’m already eighteen. And apparently I don’t have aristocratic uncles who’ve placed formal conditions on our physical contact. So when I arrive in Greywall in two or three months, and establish residence with you all, apparently I’m going to be able to specifically do things Liaraen won’t be able to do for another ten months. And apparently that asymmetry is specifically advantageous."
Nathan looked at her.
*So she means... that’s nice.*
"Sella."
"Yes."
"Apparently you calculated this entire sequence before I arrived."
"Apparently."
"And apparently you decided to execute the first strategic move before Liaraen could react."
"A future girl in love must do what she must do."
"Sella."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Sella laughed.
With her usual crystal-clear laugh.
"Nathan. Let’s go back to the communal house. Kalen probably already told Liaraen what happened because the possible paths aren’t specifically concealable when he’s paying attention. And Liaraen’s reaction is going to be interesting."
"Sella."
"Yes."
"This is going to be awkward."
"Apparently yes."
"Let’s go."
They began walking back.