[hider=Night Sola 23, 1739][center][h1][b][color=00F8FE]Callum[/color] & [color=DAF6C7]Riona[/color] Part 3[/b][/h1][/center]
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Callum used the walk to the palace to relay the events of Roman’s ceremony to Riona. An almost coherent, and greatly embellished,  story, with brief tangents about owl-men wearing spooky coats, his thoughts on fire, and Roman turning into a bear. [color=00F8FE]“And I swear, hand to the Gods, Roman lifted like eight men off the ground and tossed them into the forest.”[/color] He continued, talking of the guards who interrupted the ceremony and the missing Violet Damien; who Cal suspected had just run away from home for some peace, or ditched her father’s party, both things he could understand. 

Then he explained how he’d tried to spin the incident as a Lorenzo-level screw-up, and tried to have the city guards name Calbert as responsible, but it turned out to be Countess Damien who had given the order. Still, he’d gotten them to admit, loudly enough for all who attended the ritual to hear it, that House Damien carried little for respecting the sacred traditions of foreign guests.

[color=00F8FE]“And Munir, Ana, and Ari, all helped order the guards to leave. And…”[/color] He paused for a moment, almost adding in how they made those guards leave their boots behind too. He looked away as he continued. [color=00F8FE]“I think enforcing the belief that Sorian continues to disrespect its allies, is a small step in weakening those alliances.”[/color] 

He left out the part about the boots, mostly because there was a gleeful pride in having all those guards follow a ridiculous order simply because he ordered it. He had reveled in a small taste of having that kind of power; it would take more than drugged tea and a shared bottle to get him to admit that aloud. Once he’d finished his tale, he asked how the Damien party had gone. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Wait, wait, wait. Back up. Excuse me? A bear!?”[/color] Riona stared at Callum, wide eyed. [color=DAF6C7]“Cal, you did not just say Lord Roman shapeshifted into a bear… in front of the royal guards?”[/color] Unless she missed an important detail, that meant Lord Ravenwood was about to find himself burnt at the stake for witchcraft.

[color=00F8FE]“No, no shapeshifting, he was still Roman-shaped. And already wearing the bear skeleton. But he definitely turned into a bear. Riona, [i]he roared[/i] and it sounded like it sounded like so many different things all at once. Incredible. I think the guards thought it was all drugs and drinking and weird Varian customs, but it was magic. Old magic, before books.”[/color] Callum spoke with absolute certainty. 

[i][color=00F8FE]“He roared and it sounded like so many different things all at once.[/color][/i] [color=DAF6C7]“... Like spirits coming together...”[/color] Riona thought out loud. Old magic indeed. [color=DAF6C7]“For his sake, let’s hope the guards did think it was all drugs and drinking and weird Varian customs… Did you know Lord Roman practiced magic?”[/color] 

[color=00F8FE]“Yes and no. I know he believes in the old ways, long-standing Varian traditions of honoring their gods, and there’s magic in that. But different from the magic they’ve banned. I’m not sure what, exactly, Roman did tonight, but he did it right under their noses.”[/color] He still needed to talk to Roman, tonight had not been the right time, but now they had a lot more to discuss. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Think the Caesonian magistrates or judges care about that? They’ve burned people just because they did ‘evil rituals’ for a deity they didn’t recognize.”[/color] A fresh concern slithered through her gut, coiling around the knot of worry already nestled there. [color=DAF6C7]“The Thornbreakers might use that…”[/color] she said. [color=DAF6C7]“I know you picked Lord Roman as ‘the person you hold dear’ because he won’t be easy to harm… but… there’s more than one way to get to him you know? … Don’t doubt the Thornbreakers will do anything to win.”[/color]

[color=00F8FE]“We protect our own and our insurances,”[/color] Cal repeated what Quack had told him. [color=00F8FE]“I have not betrayed them, they won’t betray me. That was the deal so unless you’re about to tell me that Quack is a liar, I’m trusting him and the rest of the Thornbreakers.”[/color] Callum spoke confidently, he wasn’t going to start doubting them now. 

[color=DAF6C7]“No,”[/color] she sighed, [color=DAF6C7]“I don’t think Quack is a liar, I’m just less sure about the rest… Even more reason why you need to win their confidence as soon as possible.”[/color] 

[color=00F8FE]“As for the courts, Roman had the crown’s permission for his ceremony tonight. He, and his family, are beloved in Varian, with powerful friends here and from Alidasht. Coming after Roman over this would be deeply stupid, even for Edin. Especially given how poorly things are going with Alidasht.”[/color] He was less confident about this, but he was sure that there were a lot of people who would not stand idle if anyone tried to send Roman to a pyre. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Somehow, I really doubt they thought the ceremony involved literally summoning spirits when they approved it. Besides…”[/color] Riona’s eyes became distant. She felt the phantom heat of fire against her skin. The pain of the blade. Screams from the past echoed in her head. [color=DAF6C7]“Being popular doesn’t protect you from so-called ‘misfortunes’.”[/color] The heat and screams receded as she dragged herself back to the present moment. But the pain lingered—a dull, throbbing reminder. 

[color=DAF6C7]“And if being a foreign noble is really enough to get away with things that would land other people, even nobles, in trouble… the Crowns’ gonna have to deal with a very different kind of problem.”[/color] As amusing as Riona found the image of the King and Queen scrambling to maintain even a veneer of authority while simultaneously attempting to appease everyone, lest their rule be seen as feckless and spineless. She added, [color=DAF6C7]“I’m not so sure how much trouble Varian and Alidasht are willing to go through to protect just one noble either, beloved or not… Not unless they want to start serious sh*t with Caesonia. Who knows? They might even give him up as a peace offering.”[/color]

He didn’t like the way she said ‘misfortunes,’ it sent a cold chill through him. [color=00F8FE]“Mina was part of it too.”[/color] He mumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet as he thought about how many of Roman’s men, and their shaman, were also part of the ritual. He wanted to point out how that was too many people to go after and wasn’t the point of these summers to strengthen alliances between them all. But he could guess at what that distant look in Riona’s eyes meant. [color=00F8FE][i]And if they’d murdered a whole town before what would stop them from another massacre?[/i][/color] 

[color=00F8FE]“So maybe they’ll try. They won’t succeed.”[/color] Perhaps he was too flippant, but he had prevented one execution; Darryn’s, and he could stop another.

For a span, she said nothing, fingers toying with the ends of her hair until she broke the stillness, abashed. [color=DAF6C7]“Hey, sorry if I put a pall over things.”[/color] She barked a laugh, [color=DAF6C7]“You’re supposed to be the brooding, melancholic one, not me. And here I am, dredging up worst-case scenarios and stealing your thunder. Next I’ll be composing poetry and wandering in the rain to wash away some fraction of my misery. Hm, maybe that’ll attract my own cabal of admirers.”[/color] Her lips quirked. [color=DAF6C7]“You got yourself some competition, Cal.”[/color]

[color=00F8FE]“You make me sound tragically maudlin.”[/color] Even as he said it, his words came out like a long whine. [color=00F8FE][i]Cabal of admires,[/i][/color] Cal snorted at that.

[color=00F8FE]“Maybe I should take a break from being the broody pessimist and let you take over. It is less fun when it’s not raining.”[/color] He offered, smiling more as the sense of dread slowly faded. [color=00F8FE]“Fair warning, don’t brood too much or it’ll [i]Cal[/i]cify on you.”[/color] That earned a snort and an eye roll from Riona.

She softened then, [color=DAF6C7]“I don’t mean to discourage you.”[/color] Riona’s fingers found his arm, giving it a squeeze she hoped would lodge her next words deep.  [color=DAF6C7]“You’ve shown you are capable of protecting people. Saved a life already, haven’t you? And things could’ve gone much, much worse at the ceremony if not for you.”[/color]

 [color=DAF6C7]“If Lord Roman…”[/color] she paused and added, [color=DAF6C7]“or Lady Mina, or any of the many people that were there, find themselves in deep trouble, you’ll be there to save them again.”[/color] Cal’s mumblings about Lady Blackwood held a defiant spark, as if she’d struck a nerve with the dire possibilities she voiced. Riona should’ve been offended that he thought her concerns were overblown. But she wasn’t. What he showed was the stubbornness of one resolved to fight and confidence that he would win. Positivity.

[color=00F8FE]“No, you're right. I can’t work for Quack and ignore hard questions. I hadn’t considered they might see more going than just a strange Varian ceremony.”[/color] He paused for a moment, and all of that sank in. [color=00F8FE]“But I’ll worry about that tomorrow. Tonight I’m only worrying about finding whatever they’re trying to hide and not getting caught.”[/color] 

She nodded and changed subject to the disappearance of Count Calbert’s eldest daughter. [color=DAF6C7]“I’m surprised to hear about Lady Violet though. The masquerade ball was… peaceful, all things considered. You’d think the host’s child going missing would’ve caused some ruckus or gotten the whole thing canceled the second they noticed.”[/color] 

[color=00F8FE]“I’m sure Calbert just cares more about his image than his children. He’s not alone in that.”[/color] 

[color=DAF6C7]“Yeah… with how much he loves his family I guess I thought he’d make a bigger deal out of it.”[/color] Riona shrugged and sighed.

[color=00F8FE]“Does he? I heard he’d been hiding a secret son out in the country.”[/color] Cal pointed out, having heard all sorts of whispers on the subject. [color=00F8FE]“Fortunate for us he didn’t end his party early.”[/color] He added. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Why’s that?”[/color] 

[color=00F8FE]“To keep at least some of the family distracted.”[/color] He replied. [color=00F8FE]“Wulfy’s been especially watchful of me.”[/color] And his eldest brother saw through his games. Callum believed Edin thought he was just an idiot, that Alibeth would still fall for the sad youngest child routine, and most of the guards thought he was just a drunk who enjoyed being difficult; Wulfric fell for none of it.  

The mention of Prince Wulfric made her frown. She took a deep breath, cooling her blood to prevent it from boiling. [color=DAF6C7]“Is it weird that I have a feeling that a party won’t be enough to stop him from keeping an eye on you? He has eyes and ears everywhere after all.”[/color]

[color=00F8FE]“Maybe we could turn him into a frog, he’d hate that.”[/color] Callum suggested, mostly joking.  

Unlike Riona who mostly wasn’t when she said, [color=DAF6C7]“Maybe we should. It’d make things a little easier for us, that’s for sure.”[/color] 

There was a pause before she confessed. [color=DAF6C7]“I… had a conversation with him at the party. It didn’t go well… Like super bad.”[/color] 

[color=00F8FE]“Sounds like Wulfy.”[/color] He tried to remember a conversation with his eldest brother that had gone well. The best he’d gotten was a mutual agreement that neither wanted the other one dead. [color=00F8FE]“How bad? You’re not in trouble are you?”[/color] He asked, holding back the question of why she’d even want to talk to Wulfric in the first place. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Uh…”[/color] Riona’s gaze skittered away from him. Her fingers fretted the fabric of her apron. [color=DAF6C7]“So… I told him that he’s a monster just like his parents. I hope his reign never comes and if it does I hope it’s short?”[/color] A tight smile corseted her lips as she casted a guilty look in Cal’s direction. It lingered a moment before falling away, her shoulders crumpling inward. [color=DAF6C7]“I thought I saw him with someone I recognized. Someone who should be dead. I wanted to see if Wulfric knew who he was so I asked him. He didn’t give me much, and… I basically ended up telling him that his parents were involved with the destruction of my hometown. He wanted details, and I said if he really cared, he’d dig them up himself… Then reveal what he finds to the public.”[/color]

Cal had to snicker at that. [color=00F8FE]“Reckless and impulsive, you really are stealing my thunder. Wish I could’ve seen his face when you told him [i]that[/i].”[/color] He paused, wondering how even disguised Riona managed to say all that to Wulfric and not get thrown into a dungeon. [color=00F8FE]“So was Wulfy just, what, frozen in shock?[/color]  

She shrugged because, well, he was right: reckless and impulsive summed it up nicely. The anonymity afforded by the masks emboldened her, sure, but accosting the bloody Crown Prince? Now that was f***ing stupid.

But there was more to it than just feeling brave behind a mask. In that white-hot moment, she had recognized that seething rage, the bone-deep hatred that racked her body whenever the curse stirred, and the spell was one ragged breath from activating. Could the ritual of the Solstice Ceremony have kicked up ripples far beyond the woods, amplifying the sensitivity of that which she carried?

—No. Maybe? These past few days have been strange. Her fuse felt shorter than usual. It was getting harder to keep it all hidden. It could be a sign that she had little time left.

[color=DAF6C7]“If by ‘frozen in shock’ you mean an icy glare that promises to slit my throat the next time we meet, then yes, he was as frozen as the heart of winter itself.”[/color]

[color=00F8FE]“Who did you see that you recognized?”[/color] He asked. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Family.”[/color] Although that didn’t really narrow it down since the townspeople were like family. [color=DAF6C7]“Or possibly a distant relative of one. Either way I don’t want to put them in danger because they’re obviously doing well… I just… wanted to know if… there’s any chance that I’m not the only one who survived.”[/color]

Since there was still a possibility that Cal’s brother might try to get rid of her, Riona said. [color=DAF6C7]“Wulfric recognized me, with a mask, from before the slaughter.”[/color] A derisive snort. [color=DAF6C7]“I worked at the castle for over a decade and he recognized the girl, not the maid… I don’t know if I should consider myself lucky or not… Point is, if he was able to recognize the girl, then he’ll eventually put two and two together and figure out the maid was once that girl.”[/color]

[color=00F8FE]“Wait,”[/color] He paused, taking a moment to wrap his head around new information. [color=00F8FE]“Was Wulfric there when your town was murdered or he knows about it?”[/color] He asked, but either way, Wulfric was fine with keeping it a secret to protect the family. Callum’s stomach suddenly ached, a pit of dread knowing that this would always be his eldest brother’s stance. [color=00F8FE]“And you should avoid Wulfy, and if things don’t work out, you’ve still got an inside man willing to plot a jailbreak.”[/color] 

Riona whirled around, palms raised in a mollifying gesture. [color=DAF6C7]“No.”[/color] Odd, sticking up for Wulfric, but the thought of misleading Callum felt wrong. [color=DAF6C7]“We met years before that. And I don’t think he actually knew what happened, even if he had his suspicions.”[/color] 

The memory of their conversation resurfaced in her mind. [i][color=ab274f]“Believe it or not, there are truths the general public is not ready for – not at the present time, and perhaps, not until many years in the future.”[/color][/i] [color=DAF6C7]“But… he did make it crystal clear he’s got no intention of revealing secrets that don’t serve his own interests.”[/color]

[color=00F8FE]“We intend to reveal secrets that don’t serve his interests.”[/color] He pointed out. [color=00F8FE]“And one day I expect we’ll call each other enemy rather than brother.”[/color] He shrugged, not because he did care but because that outcome felt inevitable. 

[color=DAF6C7]“... Yeah,”[/color] was really all she could say to that. The two walked in silence for a while before Cal broke the silence.

[color=00F8FE]“If you think about it,”[/color] Cal decided he needed to change the subject.[color=00F8FE]“I have ensured a perfect cover story if we do get caught. I am clearly on [i]something[/i], again, and you are dutifully ensuring I neither injure myself, again, or cause any significant property damage.”[/color] Better to get a cover story ready just in case. At least he sounded much more coherent than he felt. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Right.”[/color] Riona teased, [color=DAF6C7]“What you’re saying is that’s exactly what’s happening so no need for a cover story?”[/color]

[color=00F8FE]“Exactly, nothing else going on here.”[/color] The palace loomed in the distance, a far more persistent source of unwelcomed feelings than the hut but far less intense. [color=00F8FE]“Kitchen entrance?”[/color] He asked once they were near the palace, if they were being sneaky he guessed the main entrance was out. Riona agreed.[/color][/hider]

[hider=TLDR]Callum and Riona head to the castle for some snooping. They discuss Roman turning into a bear during his ceremony and the possibility that Roman (and maybe Mina) might catch some heat for their ritual. Riona shares her conversation with Wulfric at the ball, including insulting the crowned prince to his face![/hider]