Lyra

How could I be so selfish, dragging him along with no questions asked about his want to be on a dangerous quest. I had not thought once about his inability to hold his own. How selfish I was to not tell Elara to leave him behind. Fuck.

I didn’t sleep that night. I waited until morning, brain trying to solve this problem. I couldn't just leave him here, I refuse to abandon my childhood friend. We had to find some way he could feel more safe within the party. Maybe I should ask Mara. The innkeeper seemed to know the city pretty well, it couldn’t hurt to ask what she thought about my predicament.

I found her making some bean tea, some cream and honey set to the side ready for guests. She greeted me happily and poured me a cup. The warm drink woke my sleepy mind, and I told her my problem, leaving out as much emotion as I could.

“You see he just needs a way to feel safe while traveling? Do you know anyone who could help him?” I asked, pushing my empty mug away from me.

“Send him to the split-moon guild. The monks there are about his size and they do feats of strength all the time at festivals. Maybe he could get some pointers from them?”

I thanked her, and gave her a jade piece as a tip, and slipped back downstairs, Kaelen now sitting in the common room rubbing sleep from his hungover eyes.

“What happened last night?” He asked.

“You said you felt worried about being with the party.” I said bluntly, “So I solved the problem, get dressed. We’re going to get you a new hobby.”

******

We wound our way through the lower ring, spider web like alleyways made the inner workings of this ring more like a maze, than a city. Each turn looked the same as the last, and often ended in thorn covered dead ends.

“Do you even know where we are going Lyra? We have been going in circles.” Kaelen was dragging his feet behind me. Not as excited by the idea of a fighting guild of monks as I was. Eh, he will get over it.

I took another left turn and saw it, the sign of the Split Moon Guild over the wide entrance of a old building made out of the same roots and vines as the walls of the city.

“We’re here. Let’s go” I grabbed Kaelen by the collar and we walked inside.

“Welcome wanderers, how can we help you today?” A small firstfolk walked in front of us, his reptilian eyes unblinking as he studied us. I let go of Kaelen, and stuck out my hand, “Hello, we are interested in getting him,” I shoved Kalene in front of me, “inside to talk to on of the masters. He needs a fighting style, and cannot do magik or divine work. I was suggested by Mara, do you know Mara at the Whistling Hippogriff? Well, Mara told me to bring him here, so here he is.” I stopped my loud rambling, now the eyes of many of the monks were on us, tactfulness was not my strong suit.

“Well, we will see what we can do.” They grabbed Kaelen away from me, pushing me out the door. I waved, and yelled after my best friend, “I’ll scoop you up before we leave tomorrow! I hope you get enlightened!” I turned around and wandered back into the alleyways, knowing that what I did was right even if Kaelen might kill me when he comes back.

******

“Thalas, why can’t we train down here? There is no one who can see us?” I asked, pushing the Demi-god’s copy of Elven Illustrated down to his chest, his eyes not amused by my actions.

“Because, if we get caught doing magik, especially the kind that can turn us into mean beasties, the secret police will be down on us faster than Schmig on a fallen piece of food. It’s not wise Lyra, be patient and go hangout with the others. I am sure you and your cousin need some catching up. I swear if I didn’t know you were related I wouldn’t even think you two like each other.”

His words stung, he was trying to get me to go away by using them, but he was right. I should try to put an effort towards getting to know her, especially since she seemed to understand the celestials better than anyone else around me, even Thalas who was partly one of them.

“Fine, but I won’t like it as much as trying to kick your ass, old man.” I got up and made my way to where my cousin and her bodyguard were relaxing. “Hey cousin.” My words elicited a glare from Elysia as she looked up from her bullyboar and met my gaze.

“What in the dark celestial do you want?” She asked sitting up from her comfortable position, her body language as uninviting as her words.

“Oh, come on, let’s get along. We never actually tried doing that, and since we are stuck together we could always give it a shot while we have time to kill.” Hopefully my tone sounded more sincere than I felt inside. I was lonely, this was a bandage while Kaelen focused on soaking up ethereal fighting wisdom.

“Not once in our lives have you ever tried to get along with me. What, now that you don’t have your assigned boyfriend around, you need me? What gives?” She turned away from me, “I’d rather play with a pissed off manticore than give you a chance to be my friend. The reason you are with us on our quest is for informational purposes only.”

“Why won’t you trust me Elysia? We are cousins after all. We don’t have to always be at each other's throats.” I begged, hoping to maybe appeal to her family wounds.

“Give her a chance Elysia. She is your blood after all.” Elara spoke, her words calming the static in the air between myself and Elysia.

“Didn’t you want to leave her back in the forest?” Elysia snapped. I didn’t know this. Elara looked away from my gaze, “What has happened since then?” Elysia questioned.

“We got out of the forest in time and I see what she put herself through to do so. We could have left her and the chef in the forest, their home was not far, but now,” She positioned herself to look my cousin in her eyes, “Now they are both our responsibility, we cannot let them go with the information they know about the quest, if you don’t try to build a relationship with her then that could bite us in the ass if we face any kind of trouble.”

“I don’t need your pity friendship just so I won’t turn on you.” I said, “I won’t turn on you because that’s the fucking right thing to do, and also whose to say I would ever do that?” Hypothetical ass holes.

“Many have turned away from the light. Why do you think we are in this mess in the first place.” Elysia’s words sliced the air, I had no reply, “If we trust everyone, especially people who have no idea of the scope of the divine issues at hand there would be no celestial faith left in the realm.” She gripped her necklace dangling from her neck, “I ask again, what the hell do you want Lyra?”

I looked her in the eyes and gave a half smile, my eyes still showing the hurt from her words, “Just to go get some tea with my cousin. My treat.”