Chapter 8: Conference Call
Ingrid winced as she staggered off her pegasus, the sun beating heavily against her head.
"Ashe?" Ingrid called out, wiping a sheen of sweat from her forehead.
Out of a nearby street, the silver haired man popped out of an alleyway, hurriedly jogging over to her.
Ingrid winced as she staggered a shaky step forward, her momentum stopped when Ashe caught her shoulder.
"Come to the shade." Ashe said gently as he helped her make an awkward quarter turn, their steps jointed weakly as she leaned back against the heavy wall.
"I'm fine now." Ingrid said.
"No you aren't." Ashe said as he splashed the contents of his canteen over her head, the lukewarm liquid helping little as Ingrid blinked the water out of her eyes. "It's far too warm for you to be wearing that much armour out in the sun."
"I'll be fine." Ingrid protested weakly.
"We both know that isn't true." Ashe replied firmly.
"Get me water. Please." Ingrid asked as the silvery blur that was Ashe fussed around.
"I will. But please, get some of this plate off. You'll collapse at this rate."
"Water." Ingrid repeated.
Ashe swore quietly as he pressed a open canteen to her lips. "Slow drinks Ingrid."
A grumble of protest escaped Ingrid as Ashe slowly fed her the contents of the canteen.
"Ashe?" Ingrid asked as her legs folded under her, her strength fading.
"Yes?"
"How long was I up in the air?"
"I lost count of the times you rose up. Did you see anything?"
"No. There was too much sun. It made for trying to look for anything impossible."
"Let's wait for the sun to come down before we try again. There's little point at this point to keep looking in the heat."
Ingrid grimaced as she folded her legs. "Ashe I-"
"Yes?"
"Could you get those croissants you mentioned earlier?"
"Yes. Of course." Ashe said as he fiddled around a bag around his midriff. "Here we are."
"Thank you." Ingrid said as she leaned back to the wall, eyes closed as she took a first bite.
"This looks cute on you." Bernadetta said cheerfully as the shopkeeper gave Hubert a dirty look.
"Right. How much?"
The shopkeeper glanced at Bernadetta before turning to Hubert. "Three hundred."
Hubert nodded as he took a coin out of his pouch, sliding the piece of metal over to the shopkeeper.
"How much for the thread?" Bernadetta asked.
"One hundred and fifty."
"Take it out of the change." Hubert said as the man slid back a coin of a fairly low denomination.
"Thank you." Bernadetta said with a smile as they turned to leave the shop.
Hubert sighed as he toyed with the handkerchief that Bernadetta had folded into his breast pocket.
"Is something wrong?" Bernadetta asked as they returned to the busy street.
"Just thinking about the meeting in the afternoon." Hubert replied.
"I see." Bernadetta said quietly.
"Do you want to come with me?"
"I do." Bernadetta said. "The war's not over. Not yet."
"What's this about a meeting?" A voice asked from behind them.
Bernadetta spun around and found an unfamiliar face staring back at her.
"Hubert?" Bernadetta asked nervously as she backed away from the stranger.
Hubert looked back. "Emile. What are you doing in Enbarr?"
Jeritza grimaced. "For the last time, my name is Jeritza."
"Emile, I asked you a question."
"I came to Enbarr to see the status of my scythe." Jeritza shot back.
"Erm, Hubert, do we know him?" Bernadetta asked nervously as she took a step back.
"He's the Death Knight. He lead our western front during the war." Hubert replied as he turned away from the blond man. "Come, Emile."
"Where are we going to?" Jeritza asked as he turned to face the fleeting back of Hubert.
Bernadetta glanced at Emile before glancing back at Hubert, who stood staring down Jeritza.
"We are headed to Hawthorne Lodge." Hubert sighed. "Sunset."
Emile frowned. "Why Hawthorne Lodge? What are we doing there?"
"We are seeking to work with the professor on the issue of Shambhala. For that, he must understand our past dealings with the group."
Emile nodded as he followed closely behind. "Is my presence required?"
"No. However, at the same time, we have all had our own run ins with the group outside large scale meetings. Your insight might prove useful."
Jeriza nodded. "Very well then. I will join you."
"We do have some time." Hubert said as he glanced around the street.
"Would you like to have something here?" Bernadetta asked Jeritza.
"A bite would not hurt." The blond man said as he followed Hubert's line of sight to a small cafe.
"I'm ready." Edelgard said as she joined Byleth in the imperial garden.
Byleth nodded as he rose to his feet, dusting off his trousers as he stood.
"Have you decided what you want to buy today?" Byleth asked quietly.
"I don't want anything, if I'm going to be honest."
"Is this about Hawthorne?" Byleth asked as he took Edelgard's hand.
"Yes."
"I won't push you on that topic. Anything you aren't comfortable with I-"
"No. I asked you to walk beside me on this path. Everything I know you deserve to know."
Byleth nodded. "And I thank you for that. However, I expect you to look forward to the future, not back at the past."
Edelgard nodded. "Thank you for that."
"Is there anywhere in particular you want to go?"
Edelgard shook her head. "I didn't go shopping as a little girl. I always had a closet to myself."
Byleth frowned. "I suppose we could go to the Kairos District."
"No!" Edelgard yelped.
Byleth blinked as Edelgard grasped his hand, her face panicked as her grip tightened to a vice.
"Please don't make me go there." Edelgard gasped.
Byleth nodded quietly. "Whatever you are comfortable with."
Edelgard swallowed. "I should not have reacted like that. That was unbecoming of an emperor."
"I'm told that the Maiden District has a number of shops." Byleth said.
Edelgard shook her head. "No. I need to-"
"No. El. Whatever it is that haunts you in the Kairos District, we will deal with it at a later date."
Edelgard blinked. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"
"No. We will face your demons on your terms and you terms alone. There is no need to rush something unnecessary."
Edelgard nodded as Byleth took her hand. "If you aren't comfortable with being in Enbarr, we can head north to Garreg Mach."
Edelgard closed her eyes for a second as she paused. "I believe we should follow up on Hubert first before acting on any other issue."
Byleth frowned. "I have not seen him or heard of him since last night."
"I see." Edelgard said. "If we don't run into him, I'll check back at the palace when the day is over."
"That sounds like a good idea." Byleth said quietly as he ushered Edelgard into a waiting carriage.
"Is anyone hurt?" Ignatz asked as he approached the small fire on the side of the road.
Both of the women at the fire shook their heads, the taller woman tapping the cook on the shoulder as Ignatz approached.
The man seemed surprised at Ignatz's approach, turning quickly in surprise.
"You mindless idiot." The standing woman hissed as she snatched something from the man's hands. "You just turned the rabbit into charcoal."
The man turned hastily as he rose to his feet, muttering an apology to the woman who had spoken before he glanced at Ignatz.
"You were attacked by bandits?" Ignatz asked as he got close to the trio.
"Yes." The only male of the three replied. "We fought them off though."
Ignatz glanced at the shallow grave just beyond the campfire and nodded. "Are you alright though? I hope nobody was hurt."
"We are fine." The standing woman said as she tossed the charred rabbit away, her face lined with disgust. "The bandits were very poorly armed."
Ignatz glanced at the woman sitting down, nodding quietly as he glanced back at the carriage. "Room in the carriage might not be enough if you have multiple trunks. Is there any non-essentials you don't mind leaving behind?"
"We only carried a single trunk with us." The other man blurted out quickly. "And Mortis here can take over the reins of the carriage if need be, should space inside not be enough.
The standing woman shot the man a dangerous glare, but she nodded. "That is correct. Though I would much rather be inside the carriage."
Ignatz glanced over at the ruined carriage before he spoke. "The next town is only about a third of a day away, perhaps we can find you a replacement carriage there?"
The standing woman shared a glance with the man next to her before turning back with a nod. "Very well then, lead the way."
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." Ignatz realized as the woman kicked dirt over the small fire.
"Oh, yes. we forgot to introduce ourselves as well." The man said quietly.
"You dropped my name, though you forgot to mention your own." The woman shot back.
"I'm Ignatz Victor. Pleased to meet you all."
"I'm Evi." The woman on the ground offered shyly.
"Yurius there mentioned my name already." The other woman muttered as the man hauled a chest from the carriage.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch it the first time." Ignatz offered.
"My name is Mortis. The man with the chest is Yurius."
Ignatz nodded. "In the carriage is my friend's sister Maya."
"I was called?" Maya asked, popping out of the carriage.
"Not quite." Ignatz replied as he gestured to the woman standing next to him. "This is Mortis."
Mortis nodded quietly in greeting.
"Pardon me." Yurius mumbled as he passed Maya, dropping the trunk into the back of the carriage.
"Oh! Sorry! I didn't notice you." Maya yelped. "Is there anything I can help with?"
Yurius shook his head. "No, but thank you for the offer."
"We should get going." Ignatz said quietly, glancing about. "Sooner we can get into town, the sooner we can get this sorted out."
"Very well, let us go." Yurius said as Evi rose to her feet. "We ought to report the bandit attack to the authorities as soon as possible."
"Ham and bacon club." Jeritza said to the waiter as he turned back to Hubert fussing over Bernadetta.
"Cake." Bernadetta said.
"She means the cake sampler." Hubert translated helpfully for the waiter.
"Of course sir, and you?"
"Just a pot of tea, black."
"What kind of tea?"
"Crescent Moon."
"Of course. No pastries?"
"No. I can take some⦠cake, if need be."
"Of course sir."
"I thought you didn't like sweet things Hubert." Bernadetta said as the waiter turned around.
"I don't." Hubert replied without even looking at Bernadetta. "But I also dislike wasting food if you don't manage to finish your cake."
"I'll eat all the cake myself then!" Bernadetta shot back.
"We shall see." Hubert replied as he turned back to Jeritza. "So, Emile."
"For the last time. It's Jeritza." Jeritza hissed,
"Well, Emile. Why are you in Enbarr? Was the message Shamir sent not sufficient? Do you require additional guidance?"
Jeritza sneered at the suggestion. "No. The message was clear. However, Fleche said I was a poor administrator and took over."
"Really?" Hubert asked, amusement in his voice. "That is certainly amusing. And why did Fleche not keep you in Fort Merceus?"
"She said my armour scared children."
Hubert snorted. "It has a leering skull for a helmet. I believe that was the intention of the craftsmen who made it,"
"So where is the armour now?" Bernadetta asked curiously.
"I left it behind in Fort Merceus. It was too hot to wear back to Enbarr anyways."
"Did you bring your scythe?" Hubert asked.
"No. I parted ways with it when we shattered the Kingdom's West Army at the Rhodos Coast. I had it sent back to Enbarr for repairs."
"It was damaged in the battle?"
"Indeed. I slew six separate standard bearers over the course of the fighting."
"Who lead the army there?"
"Some nameless bishop."
Hubert nodded, "I see."
"Were those all the reasons you wanted to return to Enbarr?" Bernadetta asked. "You could have asked any of us to bring the scythe with us."
"Ladislava. I came to pay my respects to her."
Hubert nodded. "Oh."
"Her family has a mausoleum in the Thousand Rose graveyard."
"I'm aware of that." Hubert replied. "However, we have no relatives to release the body."
"If I remember correctly, one of her brothers followed Count Bergliez into exile."
"The former Count Bergliez has been stationed in Brigid for almost three years now, and will likely remain there until the day he dies. Still, our agents there report he's done very well for himself."
"Jeritza?" Bernadetta asked.
"Yes Bernadetta?"
"How did you know Lady Ladislava?"
"She requested a meeting with me when Edelgard was set to attend Garreg Mach. She requested that I watch over Edelgard while she was at the Officer's Academy."
"Which turned out to not be required. After all, we had the professor." Hubert said.
Jeritza frowned as a large sandwich was placed before him. "My concern for the future lies in the fact that two of our primary administrators were killed in the counterattack of Garreg Mach."
"I am aware of that fact." Hubert replied. "It may be some time before we can find talented replacements for generals Ladislava and Randolph, unless you have a suggestion in mind?"
Jeritza frowned as he took a bite out of his lunch.
"And don't include Fleche. We have confirmed her position as the Prefect of Fort Merceus."
Jeritza frowned as he put his sandwich down. "I don't know. Hawthorne perhaps?"
"Hawthorne hates leaving Enbarr. He hasn't left the city in years. Not since Brigid invaded the territory of House Ochs has he left the city."
Jeritza took another bite of his sandwich as Bernadetta swallowed a large bite of cake.
"Have our forces found anything on Gilbert Dominic?" Hubert asked, changing away from a stale topic.
"No. The current Lord Dominic has so far claimed ignorance to the fate of his brother." Jeritza replied.
"Do you believe him?" Hubert asked.
"Of course not. But we have no proof on the matter to disprove his claim."
"That is unfortunate." Hubert said as he glanced over to Bernadetta.
"Hmm?" Bernadetta asked with her mouth stuffed with cake.
"Bernadetta, please slow down." Hubert muttered as he took a long sip of tea.
"Cake. Delicious." Bernadetta replied, taking a sip of tea as she devoured the last slice of her cake.
"Minister von Vestra?" A voice asked.
"Yes Perkins?" Hubert replied as a nervous footman stepped close to the table.
"Her highness and the royal consort have been seen in the Maiden District."
"Hmm. That is convenient." Hubert said. "There is much we can do within the district."
Jerotza nodded as he gestured for a waiter to come forward.
"Will there be anything more my lord?" A nervous waiter blurted out as he approached the table, a frozen smile plastered on his face.
"No." Hubert said as he pulled a coin from his pocket. I believe this will cover our bill very well. Keep the change as a tip."
The waiter's eyes widened as he glanced at the coin before he bowed. "Is there anything else you need us to do?"
"Bring us a carriage to Maiden District." Hubert said coldly as he rose to his feet, Bernadetta and Jeritza rising after him as the waiter called for a valet.
"Any news from the murder investigation?" Spite asked from behind his desk as Odesse entered the shattered office.
"No, we found a great deal of contraband searching the rooms, but no murder weapon."
"I suspected as much." Spite replied.
"What should we do with the contraband?"
"Return it. I have no interest in what happens once a soldier's shift ends. If there's any problem regarding my soldiers regarding performance issues, I'll deal with that at a later date."
"Are you sure you don't want to see any of it?" Odesse asked.
"Odesse, I don't care about contraband. As soon as one batch is destroyed, someone wastes time making a new batch. Playing cards, tobacco, you name it. So long as there's a demand for it, someone is going to be there to supply it."
"Solon was very much against contraband, if my sources are correct."
"Solon was against a great deal of things, but he never took serious action against anything that he didn't like."
Odesse nodded. "I never knew the man. Everything I know of him is hearsay."
"Yes, you grew up in Shangri-la. Not here in Shambhala. You didn't know Solon."
"In my initial placement, I wasn't considered worthy of being sent to Shambhala. Yet, four years later, I get a summon out of the blue."
"An accident happened." Spite replied with a shrug. "But then again, many accidents happened."
Odesse glanced at the ruined door. "Spite, I don't want to know more. You scare me enough as is."
"I am told I am frightening sometimes. Sometimes it's directly to my face. Other times, I can see it that those around me are afraid."
Odesse took a small step back.
"You understand. Good."
Odesse glanced at the door. "Should I be worried?"
"No. Nobody in this base except for private Ryan's murderers should be afraid of me."
"Right. And do you have any idea who that might be?"
"I have my suspicions, Odesse, which is why I'm not worried."
"I don't understand."
"I don't need you to understand. This is in between me and them."
Odesse blinked as he glanced at the door. "Who do you think broke into your office?"
"The same group that murdered private Ryan." Spite replied.
"What makes you say that? I wouldn't think a break in would escalate into a murder so quickly."
Spite frowned. "You fail to understand the situation correctly."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I do not believe this break in was an attempt at a break in."
"You lost me."
"This little break in was a failed assassination attempt or a failed coup."
Odesse glanced at the door. "I don't understand."
"If someone came in to steal information, then there would be no need to smash down the door. Such an act would have alerted whoever was inside the room to their presence."
"That makes sense."
"Second, I noticed something with the unfortunate private's corpse."
"What do you mean?"
"The bloodstains around him seemed to be confined to a small part of the room. In other words, he did not attempt to flee when his murderers beat him to death."
"How is that possible?"
"Magic, fear, and obstacles."
"I don't follow."
"He could have been a victim of dark magic, which kept him in place even as he was savagely beaten, have been overcome with fear, or had other attackers block his escape routes. There is no shortage of things that could have frozen him in his tracks."
"How can you say that with such a straight face?"
"Because I'm asking myself how I would have killed him to get such a result. But alas, magic is unlikely to be the answer."
"And why is that?"
"Because I'm the only one capable of casting a spell powerful enough to freeze someone in place in Shambhala. The next person capable of casting such a spell would have been Mortis, who is a full day of travel away, and the next person after that would have to either be in Garreg Mach or Enbarr."
"What about the other two potential options then?"
"I suggested fear because someone in my youth was killed in a hazing gone wrong. He had stayed in a similar beating because he feared being scorned by his peers by admitting pain during the hazing."
"What happened in that case?"
"The ringleader was immolated alive. The rest of them were either exiled to Shangri-la or sent on executions disguised as missions."
"Did it solve the hazing problem?"
"No. Hazing just changed format. There was an uptick in friendly fire accidents in the years after on missions that went beyond the borders of Shambhala."
"So what changed?"
"The faction system died with Solon. Well, that would be wrong to say."
"What do you mean?"
"The faction system of the time died with Thersites."
"Who?"
"Solon's brother, who was killed in a duel when I was twenty five or so."
"Wait what?"
"It's a long story. Perhaps once this entire mess is over, I'll tell you."
"Boss!" A voice called from the hallway.
"Yes?" Spite asked.
"There appears to be a riot brewing. We need you down there."
Spite frowned. "Very well. It seems like I must interfere."
"Of course sir." Odesse said as he hurried to follow Spite.
"My emperor!" A voice called out as Edelgard and Byleth turned.
"Yes?" The royal consort asked as the man arrived at the small shop they had been surveying.
"A message for you. From Adrasteia."
Byleth exchanged a glance with Edelgard before he cracked the wax seal, his face blank as he read it.
"What does it say?" Edelgard asked.
"Something about a Hawthorne Lodge. Sunset. It was sent by Hubert."
"It's a very high end tavern and meeting place." Edelgard replied. "Does it contain any information on where in that place we are looking for?"
Byleth glanced at the paper and shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"I see." Edelgard said. "I suppose we could try to get there early."
"How large is this lodge anyways?"
"It's a famous lodge. It was built with the intent of housing half of the nobility of the Empire during times of celebration."
"That's a lot of people."
Edelgard frowned. "It is much more than you are imagining. The lodge was built prior to the revolt of the nobles of the kingdom. With the nobles of the north, combined with their servant cadres, the lodge was massive."
"I see. Just how large is it?"
"Very. It's not uncommon for someone to get lost." Edelgard replied. "I certainly hope they left directions to where in the lodge they wanted us to go to.
Byleth nodded. "Let's get a move on, shall we? We cannot waste time in the event we are lost."
Edelgard nodded as she tied her hair back into a neat bun, dismissing the messenger with a slight flick of the wrist.
"Shall we be off?" Byleth asked.
"We should. Still, I cannot help but be concerned about where Hubert wanted the meeting to be at."
"Why not ask him?"
"Where is he?"
"Right behind you actually." Byleth offered.
Edelgard turned around.
"Hello Hubert." Edelgard said. "What are you doing here?"
"Buying thread. Bernadetta wanted to stop by a shop here."
"Hubert!" Bernadetta called from a short distance away. "Help me! Emile is being mean again!"
"Did I hear that correctly?" Byleth asked.
"Yes. That's odd. He's supposed to be at Fort Mercus." Edelgard replied.
Hubert staggered as Bernadetta ran into him, her arms appearing suddenly around his midsection.
"He's going to kill me!" Bernadetta screamed into Hubert's jacket, though Edelgard and Byleth could barely hear her.
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't." Jeritza muttered as he followed in the girl's steps. "I'm still carrying about three thousand gold worth of silk and cloth."
"Paid for by me." Hubert added.
"It is good to see you Emile." Byleth said.
"My name is Jer- oh." Jeritza said, his annoyed rant cut short when he realized he stared down the emperor and royal consort. "It is good to see you as well."
"I see that you have made your way to Enbarr." Edelgard said. "It is my hope that your trip here went well."
"It was a quiet ride down to Enbarr. Is the Scythe of Sariel finished repairs?"
Edelgard shook her head. "I believe the scythe is in a smithy in this district, but I know little beyond that."
"It is in a smith in this region." Hubert added quickly. "I am unsure if it has fully completed repairs, but I can check on it's status."
"No need." Byleth replied. "We can go together."
"Very well then." Hubert replied. "Follow me."
The two guards on the bridge back to the main camp glanced nervously at Ashe as he approached their position.
"General Ubert, what are you doing back from the city so early?"
"Ingrid is not feeling well at the moment. It's very difficult to fly in the heat today." Ashe replied. "I would like some medicinal herbs."
One of the guards nodded. "Medical tent Severus has been open all morning. Check there?"
"Thank you for that." Ashe said as he stepped over the bridge. "Could you find a runner to fill our canteens?"
"Is river water fine? That's all that is present in the field."
"A weak ale in that case. Failing that, remind me to boil the water before drinking."
"Of course." The guard said as he waved a younger solider over, quietly relaying the order as Ashe jogged over the bridge.
"Medical tent Severus is the blue tent. Fourth from left." The older guard said as Ashe hurried away.
"When is Ignatz going to arrive here anyways?" Leonie asked as she split a log of firewood in half.
"Don't ask me. I don't have the slightest idea. And who is Ignatz anyways?" The town guard muttered as he picked up the last of the neatly split logs.
"I don't know either." Lorenz said as he planted his axe firmly into a nearby stump. "That reminds me. Have we learnt anything from the bandits?"
"Yes. They weren't big on being clean. They stank as if they hadn't bathed since the war broke out."
"Ahh." Lorenz replied, slightly pale.
"We managed to trace one of them to this town, but his family died of famine over the course of the war. With the lack of documentation, it's rather hard to determine when he might have turned bad."
"Anything else?"
"No military training from what we can see. They lacked tactics beyond the tried and true human wave attack."
"We can rule out deserters from a lord's private guard then. Or deserters from any other military faction."
"So what does that tell us?" Leonie asked as she joined the two men.
"Inexperienced fighters, potentially former farmers who had a bad harvest."
"How was the harvest here?" Leonie asked.
"The last harvest went very well actually, or so the mayor claimed. I'm surprised they have been committing banditry like this."
"That is very odd." Lorenz said. "Also, I see a carriage."
Leonie and the soldier glanced over at the road, a large carriage slowly approaching their position.
"That's Ignatz's carriage." Leonie said. "Don't recognize the driver though."
"She doesn't look like your average footman. Far too well dressed for it." Lorenz added.
"You're right." Leonie said as the carriage slowed to a stop before them, the carriage driver deftly hopping off the cart. "Yeah, that woman is not buying those boots on a carriage driver's salary."
"I'm not a carriage driver." The woman snarled with mild annoyance in her voice as the two carriage doors cracked open.
"Ignatz! I want cake!" A blonde girl shouted as she dragged a scruffy brunette out behind her. "I want to see my brother!"
"Ahh. So that's what Ralphael meant by his sister being like Lysithea." Lorenz said.
"I didn't think he meant it so literally." Leonie muttered. "One Lysithea von Ordelia is enough already."
The woman first off the carriage winced as she tested her limbs. "Our carriage was waylaid by bandits on the way here-"
"What?" Leonie exclaimed.
"I don't believe there might be a place to report that?" The woman asked.
"What happened?"
"We slaughtered them." Mortis replied as a magic seal flashed in her hand.
Leonie staggered back. "You are a mage?"
"Correct. I was in Enbarr before the war broke out."
"And you were travelling alone?" Lorenz asked as he watched another unfamiliar man exit the carriage.
"The man who just left the carriage is my travelling partner." The woman offered in turn.
The soldier glanced at the carriage before turning to the town. "I will escort you to the local constabulary. May I ask how many bandits attacked your carriage?"
"Not enough to overrun us."
"Were you driving the carriage?" Leonie asked.
"No. Our original driver was involved with the plot. He fled into the woods after the attack failed. Our carriage was put out of commission after the fighting."
"Your horses?" Lorenz asked
"Fled in the chaos."
Leonie nodded. "I suppose we will keep an eye out for the other bandits, if you are willing to make a sketch."
"How long will this take? I would rather not waste time in bandit infested woods."
Lorenz nodded. "I understand, but there is a significant garrison force due to arrive in this area soon. I would like for them to have a clear idea of who is a bandit in this region."
Mortis sighed as she turned away. "Very well then. Let's be quick with the whole thing. The sooner I can leave this place the better."
"Do you think lunch is done yet?" Raphael asked Alois as he hoisted a large sack of potatoes over his shoulder.
"Hard to say." Alois replied. "All meals these days are served in shifts. It's rather rare for all of us to have the luxury of eating together."
"I think we'll be lucky then!" Raphael laughed as he marched back to Garreg Mach."
"You think so?" Alois laughed as he kept pace with most of the men who walked slightly slower than the muscular giant that was Raphael.
"But of course!"
"I do like your resolve." Alois said approvingly as he continued his walk.
"Hey!" Raphael shouted excitedly at someone in the distance.
"Raphael? What's going on?"
"It's Linhardt!"
Alois glanced over his shoulder and found the other noble stunned at being discovered.
"Linhardt!" Alois called out. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for an exotic plant." Linhardt replied, sounding slightly defeated.
"You find it?"
"I'm afraid not. The plant is not only very rare, but seemingly seasonal as well."
"What is it?" Alois asked.
"Something called Agarthan apple. I found it in a book that's probably older than Garreg Mach itself."
"Nope. Never heard of it."
"The book said there used to be a copse of trees that was in the southern mountain range. I was hoping that we could find it here."
"You look tired." Alois said.
"I am. The book did say that an apple a day kept the doctor away somewhere."
"Is this apple really so mystical? Could it heal wounds?"
"I don't know." Linhardt replied. "I was hoping to find it here, but no luck."
"That is unfortunate." Alois said.
"Is lunch ready?" Raphael asked.
"I left some time ago, but I'm not sure if they managed to make it in the time since."
"I'm famine!" Raphael exclaimed.
"You mean famished." Linhardt corrected.
"Same thing!" Raphael exclaimed.
Linhardt sighed. "You and Caspar really like your food."
"How do you think he's doing up there?" Alois asked.
"Hopefully not getting into trouble again." Linhardt said with a sigh. "The last time he got too aggressive, well, the less said about that the better."
"Is Hubert really terrified of heights?" Alois asked.
"He's afraid of heights?" Raphael asked.
"Yes." Linhardt sighed. "At the time, I didn't know either."
"He was so funny!" Raphael laughed. "He kept shouting for Ingrid."
Alois glanced at the two younger men with concern on his face. "Is there something I'm missing?"
"Derdriu." Linhardt sighed. "Hubert was, erm, trapped at a high place with no way down."
"Ah. So he erm, became afraid?"
"Very."
"How did he get up there to begin with?"
"He was warped up."
"Ahh. Where was Ingrid?"
"Halfway across the town."
"Did she hear him?"
"Not until later, no."
"That is unfortunate."
"Very."
"Are you going to tell me more?"
"No."
"Very well then."
AN: Fixed a plot hole (Ingrid not having been left alone in Fhirdiad).
