Zeke stopped her, placing a warm hand on her arm. “You can talk to me about it, you know.”No, I most definitely cannot talk to you about what happened in the woods.
“What? Do you think I’m harboring some explicit secret or something?”
“No! Hazel, I just want to help. Why are you so jumpy?”
“He didn’t do anything, Zeke!” She couldn’t help it. The emotions came pouring out, and Zeke got to bear the brunt of it.
“What? I never said…” His face crumpled as his brows grew heavy.
She cut him off, wiping a tear. “You don’t have to. Everyone else apparently is. I ran into some men on the road, not from around here. Even they knew.”
“It will be fine. Jonas will turn up. Probably just wandered off in a drunken stupor and passed out. Once he’s outslept his hangover, he will waddle home. Wouldn’t be the first time, right?”
She sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
He tucked a hair behind her ear. “It’s a matter of character. Yes, Connall and Jonas have their moments, but they also have a long history that means more than any minor squabble. People get too caught up in gossip. This will blow over, don’t worry.”
Hazel found it remarkable how his countenance rarely wavered. Was it for her sake, or did he believe what he was saying?
“I truly don’t think it will. But I need to get going. I was hoping to catch Pa before he got to work, but he beat me to it. Iwanted to give him a heads up that some folks are feeling a little extrachattytoday…just, as a warning, I guess.”
“Alright, well, I’ll see you around?” It was more of a question than a statement.
“Maybe. It just depends on how the day goes. Could be busy, could be slow.”Could end in both meandmy father being arrested.She swallowed the thought down.
“I get it. I’ll see ya when I see ya, then.” He smiled, shifted his pack higher onto his shoulder.
Just when Hazel thought he would walk away, Zeke wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her into an embrace. She caved, resting her head against his chest. The steady beating of his heart washed her in a sense of calmness.
“You know I am always here for you, Haze, no matter what. Anything you need, you always have me.”
She pulled out of the hug, but he held her by her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“I mean it. Anything.”
Hazel nodded in understanding, and Zeke released her with a half-smile. She watched him as he walked away, his almost-black hair shining in the midday sun.
He could be right, I guess. I could be worrying over nothing.But she couldn’t shake the feeling… something was different this time.
As she arrived at Briar& Rose, Hazel noticed a new piece of parchment nailed into the signpost out front, right on top of the help wanted and sales ads from the neighboring farms. Whoeverhad put it there wanted it to be seen and cared little whether they covered up the needs of other townspeople.
Then she understood why.
It was a royal parchment, stamped with the official seal of the High King. She plucked it from the board and read the announcement.
Citizens of Larksridge and Loyal Subjects of the Kingdom of Aeos:
It is with great excitement that His Majesty, the High King Magnus Ragnaroth, our Shield Against Darkness, announces the sixteenth year since the birth of His Son and Heir, Prince Tristan Ragnaroth, the First of His Name. In his Honor, your High King welcomes your presence at the First Annual Royal Tournament of Champions to be hosted at King’s Crossing beginning on the eve of Summer Solstice. Events to include jousts, melee, archery, and more…
Beyond the call for competitors,it invited anyone seeking work to arrive on the eve of the tournament to be assigned a job, and for vendors and craftsmen to bring their finest wares and goods, with setup for the vendors’ market beginning two days prior and no sooner.
But Hazel couldn’t get past the idea of this being hosted on Summer Solstice, a holiday when the veil between this realmand the Otherrealm is said to be thinner. One that might draw out witches and other magical folk who dared to continue their practice. Coinciding with a celebration guaranteed to bring the King and his men in direct contact with them… It was too intentional for her liking.
“Ah, you’ve seen the posting, I see?” Connall, despite his size, had somehow snuck up on her. She jumped at the broken silence but was relieved it was just her father.
“Young fella stopped by just a little while ago and added that lovely thing right on top of all the others. You just missed him.” She still held the parchment in her hands and glanced down at it, eyes scanning the words once more.
“I know what you’re thinking. And while I’m not nearly as superstitious as you, I don’t like it either. The way it’s worded makes me think we won’t have a choice, and shutting down the inn for more than a day or two… well, it’s going to hurt us.”
