Chapter 13: Danger

Days after the event that will not be mentioned, because Emrys has stopped thinking about it entirely, Archimedes receives a letter. It comes in a large, ornate envelope stamped with an impressive-looking seal and several shimmering enchantments all over it. Archimedes stares at the front of it for a long time. Then, without opening it, he excuses himself from the breakfast table and disappears.

He's still absent when Emrys enters the little kitchen nook for dinner that evening. Emrys glances around the space with a small frown as he realizes that he's entirely alone. The table is set but empty. He checks his pocket watch, thinking maybe he's early. A few minutes ago, he jolted to awareness from his sketchbook with the realization that it's gotten late already. But no, according to the watch, it's ten minutes past the usual time.

Aesind is a punctual person. He's always right on time or even early. Archimedes tries to be, but his responsibilities often hold him hostage for longer than he intends. But he's never this late to dinner.

Emrys tucks the watch away again. He paces to his usual seat and sets his hands across the back of it. It feels wrong to sit without them here. It would be more polite to wait.

The door to the kitchen swings open. Emrys whirls, hopeful that it's Aesind, but the household's head maid, Terra, walks through instead with a tea tray in hand. She's a round woman in her forties with mousy brown hair streaked with hints of gray. Emrys learned early that it's her tireless work that keeps the manor running smoothly.

She gives Emrys a respectful nod. "Mister Symmonet, good evening."

"Evening," he replies, watching her go by. "Sorry, Terra?"

"Yes, sir?" she says, stopping halfway through the door to the hallway to look back at him.

"Do you know where Aesind and Archimedes are?" Emrys asks. He gestures toward the table. "I haven't seen Archimedes since breakfast, and Aesind since right after lunch."

Terra nods. "Yes, sir, they're in His Lordship's study. Master Aesind did say he planned on coming down for dinner with His Lordship." Her mild tone lilts as she suppresses a smile. "From my understanding, Master Aesind intends to bring His Lordship, as well."

"Kicking and screaming," Emrys mutters with a fond curl at the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, Terra."

"You're welcome, sir." Terra shifts the tea tray and nods at the table. "Shall I have them bring you something to drink?"

"No, no. I'm alright to wait. Thank you."

"As you like it, sir."

She sweeps out the door. Emrys tucks his hands into his pockets and moves to the windows to wait. They're arranged in a semi-circle looking out into a patch of lush garden. Emrys wonders if they get fireflies here. It's almost the season for them, and he would hate to miss their appearance.

He doesn't wait too long. About twenty minutes into Emrys's wandering thoughts about the impending summer, the door swings open yet again. Aesind does indeed have Archimedes in tow. Both appear solemn and serious, but Aesind perks up as he lays eyes on Emrys.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Aesind chirps, taking his usual seat facing the windows. "Business, and all that."

"It's alright, I get it," Emrys replies. He feels very normal and calm about the fact that Aesind lit up so brightly. Very normal. He waits for Archimedes to sit at Aesind's other side, then seats himself. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," Archimedes says with a short nod. "I've been invited to a meeting with our neighbors to discuss the ghoul issue in more detail. They may finally be deciding to join me in my efforts to identify and eliminate the source of the problem."

"And it's about fucking time," Aesind mutters. He pours himself a glass of water from a pitcher on the table. "You'd think that a full year of constant threat would be enough. But no, of course not. Not until it started threatening their own lands and their own peoples."

"They have their own concerns." Archimedes rubs a knuckle between his eyes. "But it is a good thing to finally be heard." He looks to Emrys. "This is a chance to rally more support. I doubt this will be the end of it, and I hold no illusions that they'll throw themselves into the cause immediately."

"But it's a start," Emrys says. He sighs heavily. He's seen the toll of these ghoul attacks firsthand. The idea that these pompous lords could've done anything to mitigate the disaster and simply didn't makes Emrys's blood boil. Tartly, he adds, "It had better be a start." Then, more kindly, "When do you leave?"

Archimedes frowns down at his empty plate. He fiddles with his silverware. "Tomorrow morning. There will be several sessions on different days, all dedicated to different issues. I expect to be gone for two weeks."

"It won't be too bad," Aesind says soothingly, reaching over to set his hand over one of Archimedes's. "Only two weeks. That's nothing."

"A blink, really," Emrys puts in. "Over like that."

"A blink!" Aesind repeats with a grin and a snap of his fingers. "Exactly that. And then, with all that support, we'll make some real progress."

"Assuming I manage it," Archimedes sighs. A crease appears between his brows.

Aesind squeezes his hand. "You'll do great, sweetheart. You always do. Now! Let's set business aside and enjoy some dinner, huh?"

.oOo.

Archimedes leaves right after breakfast the following morning. Emrys watches him and Aesind bid each other a final, lingering farewell at the front door. It hurts his heart to see Aesind's expression fall the moment Archimedes's carriage disappears through the gates and down the drive. Emrys can't help himself. He sets a reassuring hand on Aesind's shoulder and tranquilly accepts the grateful smile it earns him in return.

Heart beating wildly, Emrys lets Aesind guide him back into the manor for a bit of reading in the library. Suitors are set to arrive in only a few days. Aesind is determined to enjoy every moment of peace that he can before they get here.

The fact that his idea of peace includes Emrys more often than not is... it's something, alright. Something very platonic is happening to Emrys's mind.

Two days of dedicated time with Aesind is all he gets, though. On the third morning, shortly before lunch, the suitors arrive. There are four this time, all offered up by high-ranking sponsors from around the continent.

Emrys secretly watches from the shadows of the hallway as Aesind greets them as they arrive in the foyer. The first is a man with the look of the military about him. His wardrobe is crisp, his hair perfectly gelled, his handshake practiced. Everything about Mister Rischer is polished. Not the sort of man Aesind would be interested in, Emrys muses. Too uptight, not humorous enough. His seriousness might be a draw, but if he can't banter, he's a lost cause.

The second and third arrive at the same time, though they don't seem to know each other well. The one is a friendly-looking man on the heavier side with curly black hair and a pleasant voice. Mister Keyes is more Aesind's type, Emrys would say, though he doesn't stand out on first glance. He is cute, though, Emrys muses. Perhaps his talents will make up for his plain first impression. Then again, it could be that he's standing next to an ostentatious peacock, rather than anything of his own fault.

The peacock has a booming voice that fills the foyer. He's tall and broad and classically handsome -- admittedly, Emrys gives him several impressed up-and-down looks -- but Mister Nolan cuts Aesind off twice during their introductions. Emrys grimaces the first time and puts his face in his hand at the second, knowing Aesind's temper for being interrupted. Aesind dismisses Misters Nolan and Keyes with no small amount of irritation.

The fourth is strange. He's only slightly taller than Aesind, of a nondescript sort of build, with bland features. His eyes are a tawny brown, and his hair is a thick, stiff yellow coif. Emrys could bounce a coin off it, it seems so fake. For all intents and purposes, Mister Reeves is an uninteresting man whose greeting is middling at best.

But as they shake hands, Aesind's brow furrows beneath his hostly veneer. Emrys hears as Aesind asks whether they've met before. Mister Reeves shrugs and states that it's possible. Nothing more. No charming, no cajoling, no convincing. Just, "It's possible."

Aesind shakes the strangeness and directs the staff to show Mister Reeves to his room. Each suitor has come with an attendant of their own, but Reeves's man doesn't even bother glancing at the bags they've brought. Instead, they allow the staff to carry them all up the stairs and out of sight. Aesind watches them go with that same wrinkle on his forehead.

"You saw that, right?" Aesind whispers loudly, knowing that the sound will carry easily.

For a second, Emrys thinks Aesind has spotted him. He straightens, ready to step out into the light, but he sees Ash emerge from the other side of the staircase. Their hood is all the way down, hiding their features entirely, but their nod is obvious.

"I know him," Aesind says. His stare is still affixed at the landing where the stairs turn to curl up to the second floor. "Why do I know him?"

Ash taps out a brief message and shows it to Aesind. Aesind pales, visible even from afar. He's immediately shaking his head, denying whatever Ash has written.

"No, it isn't possible," Aesind says vehemently when Ash shakes the slate at him. "No, Ash. He wouldn't dare. He wouldn't. He knows Archimedes would never allow..." His voice trails off.

Every suitor who visits comes with a letter of recommendation. Aesind tears into the one Reeves's attendant handed to him. Bits of paper flit to the floor. He devours the letter's contents once, twice, three times. Aesind pales.

When he speaks again, it's at a whisper that Emrys barely hears. "You're right, Ash. You're... you're right. Shit." The fancy, starched pages crush together in Aesind's hand. "Shit, shit, shit. Archimedes isn't here. Just me, and I don't have the power to... Shit."

Aesind sets the back of his hand to his mouth, and Emrys can see the way he's biting down on his forefinger. Emotions race across his face, eyes darting back and forth as he looks for a solution. But a solution to what?

"I need to know what he's here for," Aesind says in a dark, serious voice Emrys has never heard from him before. His gaze is shadowed, tense. His fingers curl into a fist that he taps against his chin.

Ash taps out another message and shows it to Aesind, who nods and shuts his eyes. His hands visibly shake every time they stop moving.

Emrys backs away. He wasn't meant to eavesdrop on the suitors' arrival, but he's heard enough about the problems with these gentlemen that he wanted to be here anyways. For now, he should act as though he hasn't heard anything. But he can't leave Aesind out there in a panic.

He squares his shoulders, wipes his expression clean, and starts walking as though coming down the hall from the library. He wanders around the corner with a greeting on his lips that dies quite naturally as Aesind and Ash both turn intense glares on him.

"Is... is everything alright?" Emrys asks, stopping in his tracks. He glances between Ash and Aesind. "What's wrong?"

Aesind hesitates. He glances around the foyer and then beckons for Emrys to come closer.

"What's wrong?" Emrys asks again, voice lowering as he steps up beside Aesind. "Did one of them do something already? Are you alright?"

"No, I'm alright" Aesind whispers with another furtive look around. He folds the letter swiftly and tucks it back into the remains of its torn envelope. "I can't tell you everything. But one of them, Erich Reeves, he's... I believe he's related to someone Archimedes and I dislike."

Emrys suppresses a snort. Dislike. It's an obvious understatement. Under other circumstances, Emrys would press him on it and even tease him about trying to get around the issue. Right now, though, the anxiety in Aesind's eyes is too real for humor.

"Has he done something?" Emrys touches Aesind's arm gently. "I can help get rid of him."

Aesind's smile is tiny but grateful. "No, he hasn't. It'll be alright. I'll just keep a closer eye on him than usual. My hands are going to be very full this round, it seems."

"I'll be around if you ever need a distraction or an excuse," Emrys says, letting his hand drop before it gets any other ideas. "Anytime you need me, I'm there."

"Thank you," Aesind replies. He grasps Emrys's upper arm briefly. "Really. I appreciate it more than I can say, Emrys. Thank you."

"What else are friends for?"

Aesind lets go, but the imprint of his fingers lingers on Emrys's skin. He sighs and trots off to see to preparations for lunch, since it's now going to be a much more involved affair than expected.

Ash stays. They tug on Emrys's wrist and guide him to the hidden staircase leading to the second floor. The suitors are staying in the western wing and Emrys's room is in the east, but they still don't want to be spotted.

As soon as the bedroom door shuts, Ash is writing swiftly.

"You need to watch Reeves," they write in cramped letters to make everything fit. "His sponsor is a terrible man. I will be watching. Please protect Aes as best you can. Pay attention."

"Who the fuck is this guy?" Emrys asks as he scans the words a third time. "And who's his sponsor?"

Ash erases the words and hesitates before writing a new message. They adjust their hood so Emrys can clearly see the apologetic frown on their face. "I cannot tell you. It is Arch's story to tell. And Aes's."

Impatience sparks in Emrys's chest. "Alright, fine. What should I be looking for, then? Anything specific?"

"Everything. Suspicious actions. Secret conversations. Snooping. Being mean to Aes or the staff." Ash taps the chalk against the slate. "Aes should never be alone with him. Always staff or you or me nearby."

"If he's that dangerous, we should be able to get rid of him right now," Emrys says, crossing his arms. The idea that a threat is currently making himself at home in the manor makes Emrys's hands itch for a blade.

"I agree," Ash writes. They give Emrys a grim look. "But it is not our choice. We have to support Aes and Arch."

Emrys ought to start keeping a knife in his boot again. He hasn't since waking up here, since this place has been a haven from the start, but if this guy is going to be a problem, Emrys wants to be ready for anything. He won't pull it unless he really needs to. The last thing he wants is to cause more problems or be forced out before he's ready to leave.

"Alright," he says with a sigh. "We'll keep an eye out. But I want answers at some point. I can't defend against a threat I don't fully understand."

Ash shrugs. "Ask Arch when he gets home. He might tell you."

"Might?"

"Sensitive topic."

"No shit," Emrys mutters. He glances at the wardrobe where his weapons are being stored. "You're armed?"

Ash's golden eyes gleam. "Always."

"Alright, good." Emrys's mouth twists. "Probably not a good time to talk to Aesind about... y'know." He gestures to himself. "Everything. Right? I was going to, but..."

"The truth is good," Ash writes, "and you should tell him. But you are right. Too tense. Waiting is smart."

"Until we're certain he's safe, at least," Emrys says, nodding. "After that, I'll tell him everything. Our priority is his safety."