A Lantern in the Dark

A ragged cough breaks the quiet.

The older man—Uncle Hek—shudders against the woven blanket covering him, breath hitching as he struggles back toward consciousness. His fingers twitch first, then his hand curls weakly as though grasping for a lantern that isn’t there.

Roman is at his side in an instant, steadying him, murmuring soft reassurances. Hek's one good eye flutters open, glassy and unfocused at first. His swollen lips part and he croaks, barely louder than a whisper.

"...water..."

Roman gently helps him sip from a cup before easing him back down. Hek coughs again, but his breathing steadies enough for him to look around the room, gaze darting briefly over each face until it settles on Jade.

"You... you're her...?" His voice cracks—whether from exertion or sorrow, it is hard to tell. His hand trembles as he tries to reach for her, but the effort proves too much, and it falls limply onto the blanket. After a beat of silence, Hek squeezes his eyes shut, gathering the shredded remnants of his strength.

"We were hiding... farmhouse... just north of the hills of Ruun'Thera..." he rasped, the name of a territory in the southern reaches of Leib-Olmai tumbling weakly from his lips.

The elderly woman, Eilvani, made a soft noise—half gasp, half whimper—but said nothing, allowing him to speak.

"The family there... good folk. Plenty of food... always plenty. Once a week... a man in gold-trimmed carriage would come... drop supplies. This morning... a boy—Haltija boy—he found me. Blonde hair. Young. Eyes like blue gemstones. Said... no time. That trouble was coming."

Hek's eye cracks open again and he sighs deeply as the memory finds focus in his mind.

"The hoofbeats... so many. Then light... everywhere. Soldiers. Armor gleaming like a second sun. They surrounded the farm. Swords and banners... burning with Light magic."

The younger Haltija in the room clenches his fists tightly at his sides. Eilvani closes her eyes.

"We fought... me and the boy. Held them off so the family could run... to the trees by the hill." His voice caught, his breath rattling painfully, but he forces himself to continue.

"I found them again. Could barely stand. But he—he grabbed my shoulders... told me where to go."

Hek’s fingers twitched again as he tried to mime the shape of a portal.

"He said... 'Get to Baroness Eclipse. Tell them Julien Mesen'ke sent you.' And when I asked him..." Hek's voice dropped, a trembling whisper, "...when I asked if he was coming too..."

He opened his eye fully, staring at Jade with something broken in his expression. "He shook his head. Said... 'There are more of our people trapped here. I can try to get them out.'"

Then, with the last breath of strength he can muster, Hek adds, almost pleading: "Don't let him be lost. Please."

Jade gasps and covers her mouth in shock.

"Julien?! He's alive! "

Jade starts to fan her face with her hands and sniffles a little while trying to hold back tears.
She takes a deep breath and begins to speak again.

"I know him. We grew up together. He went off to save who he could and I never sae or heard from him again. Im sure he made it out of that situation. If he has lasted this long then he has to."

Jade pauses to try and compose herself.

"For now, you will be taken under my care. We are in the middle of a famine currently, so food will be tough to come by. But we will make it work. If it is alright with Lady Katalina, I would like for you all to stay in her manor. It will be safest for you there. Is this acceptable with you all?"

Katalina's eyes widen at the mention of Julien's name and she presses a hand to her chest. My Julien?" She takes a deep breath and then looks to Jade. "They are absolutely welcome at the manor, Baroness. I will always have a place for our people." She stands from her chair and looks around the room. "Julien Mesen'ke is my son. I took him in when he was a boy after our family's were slaughtered by the Order. If he risked his life for you, you are indeed family. I will see that you all are taken care of to the best of my ability."

Jade smiles at the exchange but soon turns back to the matter at hand.

"I want to know more about who attacked you and why. But for now we need to get you all moved and rested up. I will visit in a couple days time and then we can discuss more."

Jade turns to thank Zuiigrii.

"Thank you for this. I will keep you updated on what transpires... Thank you again for helping my people."

Edgar strode up the embassy steps with purpose, a large satchel slung firmly over his shoulder. His movements were swift and deliberate, each step echoing across the stone courtyard. He came to a sharp halt in front of the nearest guard, his posture straight, his voice calm but commanding.

"I need to see the Baroness. Now."   There was no hint of panic in his tone—only a hard edge of urgency, the kind that brooked no argument.

"I have a message from Princess Zinna."The guard, recognizing both the authority in Edgar’s words and the significance of the message, gave a quick nod. Without hesitation, he turned and led Edgar through the embassy's echoing halls, past columns wrapped in banners and torches casting long shadows on the polished floors.

The guard knocked briskly, the sound sharp in the stillness, before pushing it open to announce Edgar’s arrival. 
At a sharp nod from Katalina, Roman stepped forward and unlatched the heavy door.

The moment the door cracked open, Edgar pushed past the startled guard with the ease of a man who had long since earned his authority. His boots hit the stone floor with solid, purposeful steps.
Without hesitation, he bowed deeply first to Jade, then to Katalina, and finally to the older woman standing nearby—his movements precise, a soldier's respect in every angle of his posture.
Straightening, he turned back to Jade and Katalina, his expression taut with urgency.

"He is safe an' wi' family," Edgar said, the words clipped and rhythmic. "Cousin’s alive an’ safe wi' cousins."

He glanced between the two women, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his weathered face, as though he expected them to grasp the meaning far quicker than he did.

"Zinna said ye’d ken what that meant?" he added, brow furrowing slightly. He paused then, glancing sidelong at the newcomers as if weighing the room's mood, before focusing back on Jade and Katalina.

"It looked like she was struck wi' a vision," he continued, lowering his voice a touch. "But seein' as Zinna’s nae the type tae have those... I reckon it was Selena—or someone else—who jammed the sight into her head." 

He stood there, straight-backed and steady, awaiting their response, every inch the knight he had sworn himself to be.

Katalina looks confused at Edgar's words as first and she starts to open her mouth to speak but then clicks her tongue. "Cousin. The Princess had a vision of Julien? And this family..." Katalina looks to the new Haltija and then back to Edgar. "I must see to my people but I would speak with Princess Zinna about this vision. I would like more details. Julien was in a confrontation with some soldiers that I can only assume were a part of the Order. It eases my mind that he is with allies but I would know more if possible."

She looks to the family of Haltija as they wait patiently. "Please, come with me. I will see to you safely to the manor."

She walks over to Jade and places a gentle hand on the young Haltija's shoulder. "We will bring him home. If it is the last thing I do." She removes her hand. "Would you have anything else of me, Baroness, before I escort our friends to the manor?"