Many things went into motion, most of which Daegal did not understand. He could grasp that they were preparing for a fight, gathering more people to help and sending warnings, but he did not understand why Reynard needed to convince some of the nobles to assist with all of this. He thought it was a given that the humans would band together in the face of such a threat as this, but apparently that wasn’t enough for some of them. Daegal did hear whispers from the more willing participants about many nobles who were still reeling or unhappy about what happened with Ricard, which was even more confusing as he couldn’t grasp why they would care about that evil man.

  While it was a little frustrating watching the humans be so discordant with one another during such an important time, there were events, unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but nonetheless bright and hopeful. Osric was starting to recover well enough, though the news about his mother was still hanging dreadfully overhead. The boy would have to learn of it soon, but at least he was able to survive.

  Another happening that Daegal took note of was when he was out pacing the halls to stretch his legs; he ran into Fiora and Leoric walking together at a leisurely pace. They were in the middle of a conversation that Daegal only caught the end of.

  “Pulverizing it into a paste and applying it to a bandage can truly help stop bleeding in a wound?” Leoric asked.

  “Indeed,” Fiora replied eagerly. “It is an incredibly useful plant and is used in many different treatments.”

  Leoric let out a short chuckle. “I wish I knew that a few years ago. It would have saved me a lot of trouble and concern.”

  “Well, you can’t just dangle a story like that out there and expect me not to bite on it. You’ll have to tell me it someti- Oh, hello Daegal.” Fiora finally noticed him standing at a junction in the hallway.

  “Hello Fiora, Leoric. I didn’t expect to find you two wandering together.”

  “As it so happens, I have free time as my role in his majesty’s plan in minor. With little to do I found myself to be restless considering the news. Lady Fiora here has proven herself to be a very enjoyable distraction from my concerns as her knowledge of the subject of medicine is quite impressive, and I find it all rather fascinating.”

  “Leoric has many interesting stories as well,” Fiora reasoned. “He’s been to so many places in service of the king that I can hardly even picture it all. I can’t help but want to hear about it all.”

  Seeing Fiora make a new friend made Daegal happy, but also a little concerned. There was a small part of him that was worried she might not spend as much time with him, but it was only a tiny voice. He understood that he could not horde her time and attention for himself, as much as he might have liked to. That’s not what friends did.

  Before anyone could continue the conversation, a pair of noble men walked down the hallway and past them. They gave Daegal a wary glance and kept their distance, but they also gave a sneer toward Leoric, with one of them making a ‘tsk’ sound even. The way these other noble people treated Leoric was strange and obviously filled with contempt. Once they were gone, Daegal took it upon himself to ask about it.

  “Why do they treat you that way?”

  Leoric sighed, not showing any outward emotions yet clearly feeling some frustrations deep down. “It is simply a matter involving my family, specifically my father.” He looked at his two companions for a moment before deciding to continue. “If you two are going to be involved with me, it is only fair that you know.”

  He took a deep breath and began to explain. “My father was a very passionate man, especially when it came to my mother. Sometimes it felt like he loved her more than the air he breathed. This made it all the more devastating when she suddenly fell ill and passed. It was so abrupt, so quick, and the circumstances surrounding it were so dark that foul play was suspected but never proven. My father didn’t need proof, though. He was convinced that another lord, one who was jealous of my father, had poisoned my mother. There was no telling him otherwise, and he marched straight to the man’s home, and ran him through with a sword. My father was deemed a murderer and hanged, my family name was slandered and debased, and I was left the sole heir to a crumbling title before my tenth winter. I grew up having to hold together my family’s name, as cursed and ridiculed as it is. I still love my family, and though I could give up my name and disappear into obscurity, I want to live in a way that would make them proud.”

  That story was a lot for the pair of listeners to process, but when they did, both of them felt the sadness behind it. Fiora felt so strongly about it to vocalize her thoughts.

  “That’s horrible, Leoric. They’re horrible. Why would they put all that on you when you were just a child when it happened? You lost your family, isn’t that something worth compassion instead of contempt?”

  Leoric chuckled ruefully. “One might think, my lady. Unfortunately, that is the nature of nobility and the games that are played. Just about every action is measured for the benefit of their names and the power it holds. They gain far more from having me remain an outcast on the fringe than they do from propping me up again and turning me into a potential competitor.”

  “That sounds... exhausting,” Daegal commented honestly.

  At that Leoric laughed truthfully, a real smile gracing his face. “Yes, yes it is. People don’t often do things because they are the right thing to do. I suppose that’s what makes the virtues virtuous. Nothing is special because it’s common, even though the world would be a better place if it were so.” He let out a small huff as he shook his head. “I apologize. I’m afraid I put a rather dour mood over this conversation.”

  “Nonsense,” Fiora reassured. “I’m sorry for making you feel obligated to tell such a personal story. We know that you’re a good man and anyone who thinks otherwise is simply an idiot.”

  Leoric smirked and held back another bout of laughter. “I wouldn’t say that in their presence, mind you.” He looked around conspiratorially. “However, I do agree.”

  Their little group snickered together for a brief moment. It was nice to have a bit of levity amidst such serious circumstances. Unfortunately, it could not last forever, as though Leoric had free time, he couldn’t stay away forever, and the orders from his king meant he had to organize the few men who were still under his command, including those who would be conscripted.

  “As pleasant as this conversation has been, unfortunately my free time is nearly up. There are soldiers who need instruction and as much as I’d like to, I cannot spend the whole day in your company. So, Daegal, I wish you a speedy recovery, and my lady Fiora, stay well. I will see you all on another day.” With that, he gave a small bow before walking off to take care of his duties.

  Daegal and Fiora said farewell to him as he passed by, and they both paused to see him off. Fiora held a small smile on her face the whole time, even when Leoric had disappeared. After the man had gone, Daegal started to notice something. There was a smell in the air, different than what he expected. His curiosity was peaked as he sniffed around, trying to identify it and where it was coming from. The answer was just as unexpected as the scent itself.

  It seemed to be coming from Fiora, and as he sniffed the air around her, she finally dragged her attention away from where Leoric had disappeared.

  “W-What?” she asked him with a slightly concerned expression.

  Daegal continued to sniff for a moment longer. He started to recognize something from the smell. It smelled similar to the animals in the forest during the mating season. It was different, obviously. All animals had unique pheromones that they put out to attract mates, but the fact that it was happening with Fiora at all was what was interesting to him.

  “Are you attracted to Leoric?” he asked bluntly.

  Fiora turned several different shades of red, mouth opening and closing several times before she could even collect herself enough to form a response.

  “Wh-What?! What makes you think that I’m a-attracted to him?”

  “You smell like you are,” he answered truthfully.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “I smell!” She began to sniff at herself with concern, which was quite funny in Daegal’s eyes.

  “I don’t know if it’s something humans can really smell or not, but for me, it smells like you are looking for a mate.”

  She scoffed and stammered and tried her best to not look flustered. She failed. “I think maybe your nose got broken too.” It was a poor attempt at deflecting the subject, one that Daegal was starting to get very amused with.

  “Hmm, unlikely. I can still smell just about everyone in this building, especially you right now and how embarrassed you are about being attracted to-”

  “Nope! Blah, blah, blah, you’re speaking nonsense, I’m not listening!” She walked away with her hands on her ears, pretending as if she couldn’t hear him at all. Daegal let out a low, rumbling chuckle in his throat as he slowly walked after her. It was fun to tease her about her romantic interests, especially since it was a side of her he hadn’t really seen yet. He let up a bit as they walked, but the smirks he gave her were enough to keep her embarrassed.

  Daegal had to check in with Mathew to have his bandages changed, so the two of them were bound for the medical room. This gave Daegal the opportunity to see another positive development that had come about recently. Once they entered the by now familiar location, they were greeted with the sight of Mathew working with some herbs at his table, and Emil tending to Osric.

  The two men had been seen together more often ever since Emil took over watch for the kid that one night. Apparently, Mathew liked what he saw in Emil, or more specifically, Emil’s knowledge of their shared profession. They worked together quite frequently, which was a boon for Emil who had once had nothing to occupy his hours ever since coming here. There was no pay involved, but there was a benefit to forming connections with those who worked for the king himself.

  Mathew and Emil looked away from what they were doing as the two of them entered and even little Osric perked up a little when he saw Daegal. Mathew stood up from the table he was working at and moved toward Daegal.

  “You’re finally here. Go on then, have a seat so I can check your injuries. I just hope that there aren’t any signs of infection, because the lord only knows what I’d have to do to cure you of something like that.” Daegal had never gotten an infection before, and when he thought about it, he had never gotten sick before either, so long as you didn’t count the times where he ate something that didn’t agree with his stomach.

  Mathew started to unwrap his body, starting with the arms and disposing of the used bandages as he did. The older man stopped to look at wounds and was surprised by what he saw.

  “My word, some of these wounds are nearly closed completely. It’s only been three days, and I remember a few of them were quite deep at the time you were dragged in here. You’re healing faster than I could have possibly predicted.”

  This was all new to Daegal as well considering he had never been so injured before, and he decided to confirm with Mathew about his opinion on the matter.

  “That’s good, right?”

  “Generally, I would say yes. However, this is my first time working with somebody like yourself. There’s no telling how your scales are going to recover, and if your bones heal just as quickly and end up in the wrong place, then that will be more painful to correct than otherwise. A policy of cautious optimism is thus recommended.”

  That sounded alright to Daegal, and he was happy that he might be able to move normally sooner than expected as he waited for Mathew to finish changing the rest of the bandages. He needed far fewer than before, mostly just to make sure that the deeper wounds were covered and treated while they were still trying to close completely. Parts of his body did look a little patchy without the bandages considering he had lost many of his scales during the fight. He could only hope that they would grow back just as fast.

  Everything calmed down for a few minutes as Fiora idly chatted with her father and Mathew returned to his work. It was a quiet and peaceful moment, but all it took to shatter that peace was a simple question.

  “Did you find my mom?” Osric asked innocently.

  The room paused everything as the question struck with an unexpected weight from the suddenness of it. Nobody wanted to answer, but somebody had to, and eventually Mathew took it upon himself as he had done many times before. Not that it made it any easier.

  Mathew moved away from his work and kneeled at the kid’s bedside. “I was hoping that I could wait until you regained a little more of your strength, but I suppose we do not have the luxury of time in that regard. We can go to see your mother, but I must warn you that it won’t be a... happy, reunion.”

  Osric started to look very worried, and Daegal could even hear the boy’s heart beating faster in his chest. “Wha... what do you mean?”

  “You and your mother were in a very, very, bad situation; a nightmare, by most standards. It was a miracle that you were able to survive in the condition that you were found, and if it wasn’t for Daegal’s demands that you be sent to me, you likely wouldn’t have made it.”

  The boy started looking around, almost like he was literally searching for answers. “I... I don’t understand.”

  To be so young and experience so much pain, the kid likely hadn’t even processed it all at this early stage. This was all stacked upon this newest revelation that was coming to him, and it was already overwhelming. Mathew tried his best to lighten the blow up to this point, but he couldn’t dance around it forever.

  “Young man... Osric... Your mother didn’t make it.”

  The statement hung in the air like a poisoned cloud for several painful seconds. The air felt so thick that those who were in it felt as if they were being crushed. Eventually it all came crashing down when Osric began to breathe too quickly. His head twitched left and right, eyes darting all over the place as they began to fill with moisture. Just as Mathew was about to say something else, Osric spoke first.

  “I w-want my mom.” It hit everyone like a hammer to the chest.

  “I want my m-mom.” Fiora couldn’t contain herself any longer and turned away to hide her own tears.

  “I wa- I want... my mom.” Osric was beginning to lose his ability to articulate as he was blinded by tears, and his body felt like it was screaming for oxygen despite the numerous breaths he was taking.

  “I... Wa... I want... I...” The kid looked like he was seconds away from being sick or passing out. Mathew took measures to prevent that in his own, slightly rough manner.

  After a moment of trying, and failing, to talk the kid down, the older man gave Osric a slap on the face, one that was light, but enough to sting. That did manage to shock Osric out of unrestrained spiral the kid was falling on. Tears still running down his gaunt face but now breathing at a level that wouldn’t lead to him falling unconscious, the kid looked around as if hoping that it was all just some sick joke.

  “My... My mom....”

  Mathew sighed. “I know, I know. The death of family is one of the hardest to experience, and you have the miserable circumstances of knowing it far too early. The church is still performing rights and preparing sanctified ground for all those who lost their lives in that pit, so she hasn’t been buried yet. I don’t know if seeing her before that happens will help you or not, but I will give you the option regardless. It is up to you.”

  So much pain, so many weighty decisions, all thrust upon a boy who was far too young for any of them. Osric was going through a crisis, his desires and pains volatile and raging inside him like an unchecked inferno. He didn’t know what he wanted, didn’t understand why this was happening, and in a desperate attempt to protect his heart, he shut out the whole world.

  This manifested itself with him physically pulling the sheets over his head, burying himself in the wrappings as he curled up in a ball. It was childish, and completely reasonable. Mathew sighed once more; a slower, melancholy breath.

  “I will not force you to decide now, and there is time yet for you to think, and mourn. We will give you time to yourself, but your limit is the end of the day. I am... truly sorry.”

  There was nothing more that could be said, no words that could undo the past or bring back his mother. Mathew stood and gestured for the rest of the room to follow, and they did. One by one, the occupants of the room exited, but as Daegal was about to bring up the rear, he hesitated.

  He could hear clearly Osric sniffling and crying beneath those blankets. It pulled at his heart, and he wanted to do something, anything, for the kid to ease that pain, but what did he have? Despite himself, he went back into the room, and sat on the bed next to Osric, wood creaking with strain to hold up his weight.

  There was quiet for a moment, only broken by the miserable sound of Osric’s quiet despair. It felt like Daegal had multiple stones stuck in his throat as he tried to come up with some words that could help. Nothing logical came to mind, and he had nothing to relate to the kid. In the end, he just started talking before he lost his resolve.

  “I never had a mother.” Daegal’s opening statement was surprising, enough so that the sniffling and crying beneath the covers lessened, just a little. Eventually a small gap opened in the blanket as one of Osric’s eyes glanced out at Daegal hesitantly. Daegal noticed and kept going, even though not even he knew where the destination lay in this conversation.

  “O-Or a father, for that matter. I have no idea if I have parents at all, and if I do, I don’t know if they would even care about me. My first memory was waking up in a cave on the side of a mountain, alone, cold, and desperately looking for safety and warmth. I thought I might have found it when I first encountered humans, but I was... different.” Daegal looked at his hands in contemplation before continuing.

  “I admit, watching all those people come home to their families, to people who loved and cared for them, day in and day out while never being able to feel that for myself, it made me jealous, for a time. I’m not telling you to forget, move on, or even accept what happened. It’s okay to mourn and wish that you had more time together, I certainly feel that way, sometimes. However, you should never regret the time that you did have together, and you should always keep those memories close to your heart, so you can remember happiness, even if it hurts. I saw her, your mother, when I rescued you, and it looked like she was trying to protect you until her last breath. I’m certain that she wanted you to live, and I know that she would be happy to see that you have. I often find myself wishing that I had a family who loved me as ferociously as that. I cannot tell you what to do, but the only thing I will recommend you do now is live in a way that would make her happy. That’s all we can do, for those we love, and lost.”

  It was a raw moment of emotional vulnerability so potent that even a kid could feel it. Daegal couldn’t tell much from the single eye that looked out at him, but as it disappeared beneath the sheets again, Daegal did notice there was less crying now. He said his piece, and now he had no reason to linger. Standing up from the bed, he walked to the door and left Osric to his own thoughts. It was up to the kid to decide what he wanted to do now.