After what seemed like forever, Anthyla entered the room.

  Well, not exactly forever. But the noblewoman had kept them waiting a good part of the afternoon, which Nela found annoying after everything they'd done. She'd have thought Lady Kelshir would be a bit more grateful than that. The least that could be done was give them a chance to get back to Faehaven by tonight.

  It had at least given them time to find Edeline new clothes to wear. If Nela remembered right, the dress her spells had ruined had been taken from one of her former maid's rooms. This time, though, it was one of Anthyla's spare dresses. Too short and a little tight, but it was better than stealing from someone. At least this one didn't have that stupid lace.

  "I apologize for taking so long," Anthyla said, "I had to meet with multiple people. Several of the aldermen, as well as another of the guard captains."

  "How did it go?" Edeline asked.

  "Better than I feared. The aldermen were reluctant to accept me at first, but once it was clear none of my brothers were here, they conceded that there was no one else."

  "But you said you have another brother? Where is he?" Ronny's question raised a good point. Kind of pointless for them to have gone so far if this man could just come out of nowhere and declare himself Lord Kelshir.

  "No longer in Kelshir, from what we can tell. One of the gate guards spotted him at the western gates, leaving the city. As for my mother...no one knows anything. I would not blame her if she fled as well. A few years ago, I might have too."

  "No one's going to call you a coward now," Nela told Anthyla. Or any of us, she added silently.

  "Where's Claris?" Hamond looked around the room as he spoke. Did he expect the priestess to be hiding in a corner or something? It was just the four of them with Anthyla. Oh, and Ugotlas, who was laying in the corner quietly resting. Nela knew the sphinx had to be listening closely in on them though, same as always.

  "She returned to the temple to tell the Episkopiate we succeeded. If you were hoping to speak to Claris about something, I am sorry."

  "No...it was nothing." Hamond's tone told Nela that was far from the truth.

  "In better news, Captain Sophos is alive and recovering," Anthyla said, forcing a smile. "They were talking of crafting a wheelchair for the man. I will gladly pay the cost to have it made. His service has earned that much, and more."

  "That's good," Ronny said.

  "On the subject of crafting things," Anthyla continued, "I understand you broke your sword in the fight. Would you like it reforged?"

  "That's...not how repairing a broken sword works," Ronny said slowly, "You need to replace the blade."

  City full of smiths, and Anthyla here didn't know a bit about their work. Figures, Nela thought with a snort. If she wanted to live up to the title of Lady Kelshir, she'd better start learning, and quickly.

  "We wouldn't have the time anyway," Hamond pointed out, "We need to get back to Faehaven soon. And then we'd probably have to leave in another day or two."

  Anthyla took in a shaky breath. "I knew. It is just...me being selfish, wanting your aid for a little longer. But...that will not work, not after what I..."

  "After you did what?" Edeline asked, face hardening.

  "I misled the aldermen," Anthyla explained, "They believe that my father died at the hand of the Witch of Wrath. I did not correct them, because if they knew the truth, I might lose their support."

  Was that all it was? Letting the Witch of Wrath take the blame for it was no problem for them. Even the Witch of Wrath likely wouldn't complain, Nela figured, since it meant Lord Kelshir was dead either way. If it meant Anthyla would be in a position to help out Faehaven, then everyone came out better for it.

  "And if we remain here, our role in Lord Kelshir's death might be discovered," Hamond noted.

  "That's going to be a problem though," Ronny said, pursing his lips. "We needed to get supplies before our trip. Something that might be a bit difficult, because we're lacking coin."

  "As in, we have almost none." Nela saw no reason to hide it. Hamond had won a few off some card games with that old hunter, but that was nowhere near enough to make up for being robbed in Verdan.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  "I do not think we have much in the way of travel supplies here," Anthyla said, casting a glance around the room. With the fancy decor and furniture, Nela didn't doubt it. "However, the least I can do is give you some coin for your journey. If you would give me a moment?"

  Ronny nodded, and Anthyla hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Guess it was more waiting then, Nela almost said, but held herself back. Really, though, would it have hurt to get one of the servants to go bring it? There were servants about, as one had peeked in on them earlier. Maybe they should have mentioned that to Lady Kelshir, since they were trying to be secretive.

  Thankfully, they did not have to wait long, as the door opened again to reveal Anthyla carrying...a really large bag. She was breathing heavily, visibly struggling to hold the sack up with one hand.

  "That's a lot of pikers," Hamond said quietly.

  Ronny stepped forward and took the bag, grunting with surprise at its weight. "We're going to divide all of this into separate bags for each of us to carry," he said, "But with this, we'll have no trouble buying all the food and other supplies we need, and more besides."

  "How much is even in there?" Nela had to ask. Anything that was so heavy that it made Ronny strain was...shit, she couldn't even think of the last time Ronny had struggled to lift anything.

  "I just...grabbed one of the bags out of the safe." Anthyla was still trying to catch her breath.

  Nela had to hold back a laugh at the look Ronny and Edeline exchanged. She could read it easily enough. This was an amount of coin far beyond even what they had as Hallowscroft nobles. And if Hamond was right, it was all due to those foundries.

  "At least you'll have plenty of coin to help Faehaven with." That was the one bright side of all this. "Maybe even enough to give them back some of their old places in the city."

  "I could see about some of it," Anthyla answered, "However, the foundries will have to remain. I still have to honor my father's agreement with His Majesty, and continue to provide them with the bombards and other weapons." The noblewoman gave a small thin smile. "However, I am in need to recruit new men for the city guard, a job I am certain more than a few elves would take."

  "Now that sounds good," Nela said with a smirk. Wait until that one guard found out.

  "Anyway, I also brought this." All the while, Anthyla had been holding something in her other hand, and Nela hadn't even noticed. Annoyed with herself, Nela looked on as Anthyla handed Edeline a sword.

  "Thank you," Edeline said, taking the weapon. Leaving it in its sheath, Edeline gave it a few quick test swings. "Lighter than my old sword."

  "It was my brother's blade. He was never all that skilled with it, from what I know, so it mostly remained hanging in his room. At least now it will see use."

  "Likely for a better cause than any he would have fought for, too." Edeline fumbled a bit, attempting to tie the sword onto her belt.

  Anthyla nodded, rather quickly. "Perhaps, given time, my remaining brother will understand where our father went awry."

  "And if he doesn't, then you just have to hit him on the head a few times," Nela remarked.

  "I will consider that advice," Anthyla said, smiling again.

  Nela was about to respond, but then heard the clinking of coins behind her. Glancing back, she saw Ronny and Hamond emptying some the sack into of their own bags. Fair enough...wait a moment. "That's my bag!" she said loudly.

  "We're dividing it up evenly," Ronny stated, clearly failing to hide the amusement on his face. Hamond silently pointed to another the bags sitting on the floor near his feet, as if that proved something.

  "Why do I put up with you?" Nela asked, rolling her eyes. Ronny just chuckled, before finally starting shoveling coins with his free hand into a different bag.

  "Do they usually act like this?" Anthyla asked Edeline in a low voice.

  "At times," Edeline replied in an equally quiet voice.

  "I see," Anthyla said. Looking back, Nela wondered if little jokes like that ever happened between the noblewoman and Claris. Both seemed a bit too serious for that, but she could be wrong.

  "We'll be done soon," Ronny spoke up, more serious. "We'll head through the market, pick up whatever we need, and return to Faehaven for the night. Once we've taken care of our business there, we can depart for the north."

  "Before you go, there is one more matter." Anthyla took a seat opposite them. "I do not mean to pry, but I believe you were going to mention it before. That is, back in the Order's library, you were saying something about the Stormsage. Since Claris was not able to hear it...what was it that you found?"

  Ronny's gaze drifted over to Ugotlas, who had raised his head up in anticipation. Right, they hadn't wanted the sphinx to know that one detail. But they couldn't hide it forever. It would be obvious once they got to wherever the Sluice's statue was hidden away.

  "He'll learn eventually," Nela reminded them, "Just say it."

  Hamond sighed, face showing an admission of defeat. "It wasn't just a tomb, not in the usual sense. Something...somehow, imprisoned the Stormsage below Hallowscroft."

  "Are you certain of this?" Ugotlas asked. Nela had never seen the sphinx surprised, at least until now. It was a little disturbing, to be honest. "You believe they would have been kept existing this entire time?"

  "As sure as we could possibly be," Hamond's look made it apparent he felt it was the truth, at the least. "And from what we learned, it is likely the same fate befell the other members of the Elemental Hex."

  "We intend to free them," Edeline finished, "Bring an end to their suffering."

  Anthyla was silent for a long moment, lost in thought. "Then so shall it be," she finally said, "I, Lady Anthyla Kelshir, on behalf of all of Hyarch, hereby order you to seek out the other members of the Elemental Hex. Relieve them of whatever torment they are suffering. Repay them for their loyal service to the kingdom."

  "We will." Myronel said, "You have my word."

  "Thank you for your help," Hamond said, reaching down to collect his bag.

  "No, you did more for me and this city than we could ever do for you." Anthyla rose to her feet again. "Now, if you will permit me, I will see you all on your way."