Ardrin reluctantly dismounted and began trailing behind the two who shared an idle conversation about days long past, observing the town and how prosperous it seemed to be. The thick stone walls echoed with the sounds of the market, as well as children playing entirely carefree on the streets.
"It's good to see so much has changed since I was last here. Don't you think so, too, brother?" Taegin asked over his shoulder. "I hardly even remember the last time I was here, so I can't say much about it," Ardrin grumbled, prompting his brother to chuckle and shake his head. "Then let that be a reminder of why we're here to begin with," Taegin gestured toward a group of children playing a game of tag along the side of the street.
As they made their way to the main fortress, Wien signaled to the other guardsmen, who stood at the entrance, to allow them to pass. They all regarded Taegin with a certain degree of curiosity, but fear overcame them when they noticed Ardrin's enlarged figure just behind him, with his arms clasped behind his back.
"Is the Commander here?" Wien asked after briefly introducing the two elves. "She's in a meeting with Lord Anders, but it should be over soon. These two can wait for her in the main hall with the others," one of the guardsmen said, signaling to the others to open the heavy, oaken doors.
We're wasting time. Haven't you seen enough already? Ardrin sent with a slight hint of frustration. Confirming the wellness of the citizens is one thing, but I need to know whether this Anders is just going to be another thorn in this country's side, or if he's genuinely trying to make a difference, Taegin replied as the hinges creaked under the weight of the massive doors.
While the main hall had remained generally the same, Anders' banner hung from the gaps between the large stone pillars in place of the former king's. Numerous others were waiting for the results of the meeting in the main hall, all fashionably dressed in the finest clothes Odensby had to offer.
These nobles make me sick, Ardrin snorted derisively after taking a moment to observe them. We're not here for them, though I'm sure they plan an integral part in keeping this place as cheerful as we've seen it so far, Taegin replied with a subtle shake of his head.
As soon as their brief exchange ended, the doors on the side of the hall opened, causing an immediate clamor amongst the nobles. "Lord Anders, what are your plans for the sickness?" one of them asked as soon as they entered the room. "Our cattle won't survive the winter at this rate. Please, you have to call for help!" another shouted, desperation evident in both his words and tone.
Sickness? What's this all about? Taegin asked. I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it doesn't look like the peace outside will last for much longer, Ardrin replied with a raised eyebrow, suggesting what Taegin was already beginning to fear.
"Everyone, please. We're doing what we can to find the best course of action," Anders raised his hands in a calming motion. "All we want are answers, Lord Anders. Why aren't you telling us what this is all about?" one of the ladies present asked bluntly, causing Trina to step in.
"Lords and Ladies, please. I'll answer what I can from what my troops have gathered about the situation. Honesty is the best policy right now, so I'll begi-..." she trailed off, noticing Ardrin's enlarged figure, and Taegin's glowing eyes right beside him. "T-Taegin? I-Is that you? Is that really you?" she asked with uncertainty as she squinted her eyes, immediately clearing a path through the crowd toward them.
"My apologies, Commander. It seems you've put me in a difficult spot, as I'm not sure I remember you," Taegin replied with her proper title after piecing together the information he got from Wien. However, it was apparent that he did so with visible confusion. "Of course, you wouldn't recognize me. I was only a young girl then, but I've never forgotten how you saved my home after your fight with the Mother Ochelon," she chuckled in disbelief, shaking her head.
"You were there for that?" Taegin asked as he rummaged through his memories. They were still clear, but he was struggling to put a name to a face. "My apologies, but what was your name again, Commander?" he finally relented after failing to recall it. "Trina. Trina Lande," she said with a bright smile and tears of hopeful joy in her eyes as the memory of the young girl visibly resurfaced in his mind.
"Of course! Little Trina, I believe your father used to call you. Though you're not so little now, it seems," he said, noticing she stood nearly as tall as Thorsen. He was both happy to see her again and relieved that he did, in fact, remember who she was. "That's right, he did call me that, but I hardly reached the height of your hips back then. Meanwhile, you haven't aged a day," she chuckled, while outstretching her hand to clasp his forearm.
"Clean living, you know," he smiled brightly as he took her arm in his after releasing his grip on her forearm. "My apologies for putting you on the spot like this, but we could really use your and your companion's help," Trina said, giving Ardrin a confused glance.
"Brother, actually, and we'd be happy to help, though there are other things we need to discuss," he said, raising a pair of eyebrows at Ardrin, whose expression was just as plain as before.
"I didn't know you had a brother," she said with a nervous laugh. "I didn't think I still did at the time, but this is Ardrin. I pray you'll treat him with the same respect as you would me," Taegin said with a gesture, prompting Trina to perform the same greeting as before.
Ardrin looked down at her outstretched hand, as if considering whether to take it for a moment, but after a subtle hint from his brother, he relented and did so anyway. "Pleasure to meet you," he said begrudgingly, getting a satisfied grin from Taegin.
"You as well. I hope that with your help, we'll be able to put an end to this sickness," she said with a firm nod. "Lords and Ladies, I apologize for the halt in regular proceedings, but these two gentlemen couldn't have come at a better time," she shouted, leading them through the crowd to the front of the throne.
Anders, gesturing for Trina to take over the conversation for a moment, gave a brief nod of acknowledgement to the two elves, though he was taken aback by Ardrin's hands when he turned around.
"I believe these two can help us solve the mystery of this sickness, but in the meantime, I'll need you all to be patient. I will take them to where our men have been investigating the matter, and with any luck, they'll be able to help us find an answer," she announced, getting more than a few murmurs from the crowd in response, prompting Ardrin to scowl at them.
"If you're done complaining, leave," he said roughly in a reactive response to the crowd before him. Some of them were appalled by his behavior, but others immediately cowered in fear. "That wasn't very polite, brother," Taegin whispered loudly enough for Trina and Anders to hear. "It worked, didn't it?" Ardrin raised an eyebrow, causing his brother to shake his head before Ardrin rose from his seat.
"While I can't publicly say that I'm grateful for your abrupt dismissal of them, I was rather tired of hearing their complaints," he admitted, outstretching his hand for Ardrin to take. "If you knew who I really was, I doubt you'd be shaking my hand," Ardrin scowled, prompting Anders and Trina to both look at him curiously.
"Well, if he's here alongside Taegin, I trust him; as should you, Anders," Trina gave him a firm nod after taking a moment to consider his words. "Thank you," Taegin added with a light bow. "However, I am curious as to where this sickness came from. Where did you last see it?" he asked.
Trina paused momentarily, as if trying to find the best answer to give him, but eventually shook her head. "I can't say for certain. It's been everywhere and nowhere at the same time," she said, causing Ardrin to raise an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" he asked, prompting her and Anders to exchange a glance.
"Listen, Trina and I are former Synners who have seen our fair share of creatures and spells. Whatever this is, it's different from anything I've ever seen before. It appears seemingly out of nowhere, and leaves little to no traces of mana behind whatsoever," Anders sighed defeatedly.
Do you think Mideia's making his move here in Hjalfar? Taegin sent his brother. It seems likely, but to what end is another problem entirely, Ardrin replied.
"Can you take us to the last place you saw it?" Ardrin asked, nearly making Trina flinch in surprise that he was the one to ask. "Y-Yes, I can. Rather, we can. It's not too far from here, though I can't guarantee we'll find anything of use to us," she admitted.
If these two can't figure it out, then we're in much deeper shit than I thought, she considered in the heartbeat between her statement and their nods of agreement.
"Good. I think it would be best if we left now. If this sickness is as you say, the longer we wait here, the less chance we'll have to discover its origins," Taegin suggested, getting a nod of agreement from Anders. "I won't be going with you, but I do wish you the best of luck," Anders said, giving the two elves a firm nod. "If things go the way I think they're about to, you'll need all the luck you can get," Ardrin said grimly, returning the nod before the three others left the main hall.
"Wien!" Trina called out loudly as she moved toward the large doors, followed closely behind by the two brothers. As soon as the word left her mouth, he poked his head out from around the corner of the large door. "Ma'am?" Wien asked cautiously. "Bring our horses. You're coming with us," she said as she continued to walk briskly. "W-Wait, what? I-I'm going with you?" he asked sheepishly, still a little afraid of Ardrin, but more afraid of whatever it was she had planned.
"Trina, I don't think it's a good idea for him to…" Taegin began, but immediately received a glance from her that prompted him to halt. "Master Taegin, while I'm well-aware how powerful you are, I can assure you that he will be a valuable asset to us," she began in a tone that exuded confidence, making Wien blush a little.
"He may be young and untrained in the ways of mana, but he knows the citizens better than I could ever hope to. If we're going to find this place, we're going to need his help," she continued proudly, prompting Ardrin to exchange a glance with his brother.
Do you really think it's a good idea to have him with us? He can't even wield mana, he sent briefly. Neither could Athar, but he still proved helpful to you, did he not? Since this isn't familiar territory to me, or you, for that matter, I think it would be best to use all the help we can get, Taegin sent back with a suggestive grin. Fine, but you're protecting him if anything goes wrong, Ardrin sent begrudgingly.
"I'll trust your judgment, Trina. Please, lead the way," Taegin nodded with a gesture for her to continue out of the hall, getting a bewildered look from Wien.