A few days of forest picnics were able to help Eisso almost forget about the day of the festival. Almost.
Eisso was going to go to the castle today; he didn't want to be there when Ocielle actually did her job.
He got ready early, before the sun was up. He tried not to wake up Kenzie, but she was an early riser so soon enough she was she was getting ready for the day as well.
"Do you want to come with me to Ylisstol?" Eisso asked. He was feeding his rabbit while Kenzie was getting out clothes.
"Yes," Kenzie replied. "Let me change and do my chores, though. If you want, you can start going to the castle and I'll catch up. I don't think you should be here once Ocielle opens the shop; I've had to clean up the messes before, and it can get a bit uncomfortable if a lot of people come."
"I'll get some breakfast and start heading to the castle," Eisso said.
Kenzie nodded. "I'll see you there."
…
Ylisstol was busier now, after the festival. Eisso stayed on the roads he knew best.
Lucina and Morgan were sitting outside the castle doors, which were closed for the first time that Eisso could remember.
"Hello," Eisso said.
Morgan looked up before Lucina did. "Eisso!" He said, smiling. "We weren't sure if you were coming today or not. Where's Kenzie?"
"She'll be here in an hour or two," Eisso replied. "She needs to do chores. I just didn't want to spend any more of the day there than I had to." He gestured to the spot beside Morgan. "May I?"
"Sure," Morgan said. Eisso sat down beside him. "The adults are holding a meeting. After everyone left after the festival, Mother interrogated the assassin. I was never told anything more than that. But, presumably, Mother and everyone else's parents are talking about how to act. We aren't allowed inside until they're done."
"So everyone else is here, too?" Eisso asked.
"Not everyone," Morgan said. "Owain, Inigo, and Severa were here, but then they left to get breakfast. Nah came with her mother, but left afterwards. Noire, Brady, Yarne, and Kjelle's parents came, but they themselves never showed up."
"Father asked all of his former army to come," Lucina said quietly. "Right now, they're just catching up on what they've missed—but when Feroxi khans come, they'll start the actual meeting. It would've been done sooner if not for everyone needing to travel."
"How long will the meeting last?" Eisso said.
"Hopefully, it'll be over by lunch," Lucina replied. "But it depends on when the khans come. And what they're discussing." She paused. "I was with them when they interrogated the assassin, for the experience that I might need in the future. And I thought, for the same reason, they would've let me or Morgan in the meeting. But we're not even allowed in the castle. I want to know what they're talking about; yet, at the same time, I don't."
"They'll tell us once the meeting's over," Morgan said. "Don't worry too much about it."
Lucina didn't look too convinced, instead pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
The three of them fell into silence. As Eisso had predicted, Kenzie came about two hours later, and Morgan suggested training.
"We shouldn't go too far," he said, "But I do know of a patch of forest by the castle. Mother would take me there when I was first learning magic. Mother insisted that we carry weapons with us after the assassination attempt, so we won't need to get anything." He looked at Kenzie and Eisso. "What about you two?"
Kenzie patted the bag she had brought. "I brought a tome for Eisso," she said. "I figured he'd forgotten, and since he normally trains here I decided to bring it. I also have a few daggers for myself."
"So we're all set," Morgan said, nodding. He stood up, and so did Lucina and Eisso. "Follow me; it isn't too far."
(A/N: I probably described Lucina's position oddly, but that's the best way I can describe it.)