Chapter 4 Sneak Peek

Next time on Misplaced:

Between attending long meetings that stretch for a candle’s worth of time, participating in all sorts of courtly goings-ons, in which every noble demands exceedingly ridiculous amounts of Az’Lean’s time, and lots and lots of combat training with the prince that leaves you exhausted, there are a other small things that quickly begin to pile up and often have you busy until late into the evening.

Living in your new room, being around Az’Lean - it all still takes some getting used to, but you can feel yourself adapting. Slowly, surely. It seems you deal well with change - who would have thought?

***

Still, this is all very risky and you don't entirely feel good about it. You try framing it as simply an investigation, or an interrogation, but the fact is that you're meeting with someone that shouldn't be here. Your heart starts racing at the thought of everything that could go wong. This is why you need to steel yourself. You'll be sneaking off into the castle gardens in the middle of the night, after all - an act like that requires some thought. 

***

A slight breeze rustles the leaves above you and the sweet scent of flowers around you heightens. Maeve instinctively seems to revel in it before she shakes her head and regards you carefully. "I figured you'd ask about this next. I did pormise answers and I will try my best. What do you want to know?"

***

Just as you are about to lose focus and zone out, the door to the council room is thrown open, silencing everyone and sending a stack of papers flying.

Lady Westwale stands in the doorway, fully dressed in armour and a grave expression on her face. “Urgent report, your majesty,” she says, sounding slightly out of breath.

***

“Just to reiterate, we won’t be doing any fighting, right?” they ask. It isn’t the first time they‘ve asked.

Az’Lean sighs. “Not unless we have to, Vynn. You’ll be fine.”

“Won’t you be in the back shootin’ arrows anyway?” Thianne asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Think about it, Vynn,” you say, “isn’t this the ideal set-up? An archer, a mage, and two front-line fighters. Even if we had to fight, Az’Lean and I would take the brunt of it.”

“For which I am endlessly thankful,” Vynn drawls, “but! What if the enemy goes for me because they know I’m not as good defensively?”

“Then they’re a fool. You can hold your own easily in close combat as well,” Az’Lean says and reaches over to clap Vynn on the back. “I’ve seen it first hand.”

You can’t see Vynn’s face from here but you’re certain you can hear them smile when they say: “It’s no fun at all to complain when everyone is being so supportive.”

Thianne perks up at that. “Allow me to fix that for you: you’re trash at fightin’ and we’re all goin’ to die.”

Vynn laughs. “Now that’s what I wanna hear. Thanks, Thianne.”

“Just doin’ my part to keep this team goin’.”

***

Just as it becomes almost too dark to see the road without a light, you spot the glimmer of lanterns in front of you, still a ways away. The dirt is turning into slick cobblestone, and while you have to slow down, it also means that you are nearing civilization. It doesn’t take long for a large village to pop into view, nearer than you thought it would be. The houses are all built around a hill, atop which a large mansion towers. It is made entirely of stone, void of any colour, almost resembling a keep. The rain runs down the cut stone like waterfalls, and the way up to the mansion looks slippery and steep.

***

The stench of death and ashes hangs in the air - putrid, nauseating. It mixes with the scent of salt and you swear you can taste it upon your tongue.