Quirin's home was weird, and that was coming from a guy that had lived in a tree. Hector had never understood the appeal of living in a castle in the first place. Castle's were fortresses to protect dangers hidden within, like the moonstone. Large houses were for large families or groups of people to live in. Or maybe it was a family heritage thing. Hector could even accept that.
Two people who had migrated to Corona should not be living in a castle by themselves. It just wasn't practical. Not only did they not have enough belongings between them to fill in the space and actually make it look like someone's home, but the castle was too large for one knight turned farmer to protect with the help of his son, who happened to be a genius, but was still just a child.
Varian offered to show them his lab, and Hector was curious about what kind of work the alchemist had going on, but he had more important things to worry about. He needed to see where the weak spots in this place were, so he could figure out how to make improvements.
Hector didn't have to say anything about his intentions. Quirin and Adira just exchanged glances before she agreed to go with Varian to his lab. Quirin insisted on giving Hector a tour of the castle. He knew exactly where his concerns were.
It was far from a traditional tour. Quirin showed Hector every entrance, including hidden ones, in the castle, and how reinforced the windows were, thanks to one of Varian's experiments. Hector saw that Quirin had a lot of tools in the house that could be used as weapons for someone with his training. Staffs. Knives that were balanced and reinforced so they were more like daggers. All kinds of shovels and rakes that could be used to bash or stab if necessary.
Maybe Quirin was just very passionate about farming, but Hector liked the thought that his brother knew how to fight with these things, just in case. He knew that Quirin wanted to leave his old life behind him, so maybe it was just wishful thinking, but he hoped that his warrior's instincts were still here.
If Quirin wasn't a warrior anymore, what would they have in common anymore?
"Corona is the safest kingdom I know." Quirin said. Hector couldn't help but seethe. He knew that the Dark Kingdom had been far from safe, but it had been their home. It had been the Brotherhood's job to keep it safe. Not for the first time, Hector wondered why Quirin had come running here.
His brother had never been afraid of a challenge before. He wasn't one who looked for easy and safe solutions. What had happened to his adventurous brother who wouldn't hesitate to fight for what he believed in? Why had this domestic life broken him?
"Safety is an illusion." Hector said. He specifically didn't look at Quirin, because he didn't want to see his disappointed look. "Even if you're right, this place was still attacked by a monstrous demon and a power-hungry hand-maiden. And that was just what we saw for ourselves."
Quirin frowned slightly. "Zhan Tiri has been defeated."
"And the hand-maiden is still free to do as she pleases." Hector growled. "She targeted our family. Your family. As long as she roams, I won't relax."
Quirin looked conflicted for a short moment before he sighed. "Neither will I." For the first time since reuniting with his siblings, Hector felt understood by one of them, and he felt like he still knew them after all these years.
"Do you want to spar?" Hector asked. "Or patrol Old Corona?" Hector had always dealt with his concerns by throwing himself into his training or duties. If he couldn't fix a problem himself, the next best thing would be to be ready to protect himself and those he cared about should the worst happen.
Adira had always felt that she was prepared enough for anything that came her way, and that the best thing to do was to keep calm and content so that her mind was relaxed and ready to act at the drop of a hat. Quirin had always used to be the one who saw things similarly to Hector. He wanted to be prepared back then. Hector didn't think it would be any different now.
Quirin sighed. "I'm tired, and I know you are too. Being under the mind trap's influence was physically draining, and you were under its power much more than I was."
Hector knew his brother didn't mean anything bad by that. Quirin was just saying that Hector and Adira had continuously been under Cassandra's influence, while his and Edmund's mind-control had been an on and off thing.
Still, Hector couldn't help but feel like Quirin was saying that he was weaker, or easier to control, or even just more vulnerable. He was supposed to be a warrior, not a pathetic tool to be used and tossed aside.
"Let me show you to one of the guest rooms." Quirin said. "You need to let yourself rest."
I'm not tired." Hector said. Quirin looked like he believed it just as much as he had when Hector had said the same thing as a kid after multiple days of no sleep.
"We're all tired." Quirin said. "Can you just try to sleep? For me? We can talk about furthering our defenses tomorrow."
Hector didn't know if it was because of the promise that they would take action soon, or if it was because Quirin's words implied that they would be working as a team, and he wasn't expecting Hector to leave first thing in the morning, but he felt reassured.
"Fine." Hector said reluctantly. "But I'm staying in the same hall as you and your kid. " He wasn't about to let something happen just because he was a few doors too far to do anything at a critical moment.
Quirin chuckled. "I can handle that." He led the way upstairs, and the bedrooms looked only slightly more lived in than the rest of the empty castle. Hector supposed that Varian kept his personal belongings in the lab, where he spent most of his time. As for Quirin, he had always had very few personal belongings.
Hector was brought to a room right next to Quirin's. It was practically empty, with the only furnishing being a bed and a desk. Hector laid down on the bed, and immediately groaned in satisfaction and let himself sink down on it. He heard Quirin chuckle, but he really couldn't care less.
"I can't even remember the last time I was on a bed." Hector said. He hadn't really seen the point in bringing a bed to the Great Tree. He'd just slept on a mat, and he'd been content with it, but this still felt so nice.
Quirin sighed. He sounded disappointed. Hector frowned and sat up, looking towards his brother. There was a sad look in Quirin's eyes, and Hector really didn't like the way that he was looking at him. He stiffened defensively.
"What?" Hector nearly snapped.
"Nothing." Quirin shook his head. "Get some rest, brother. I'll see you in the morning." He retreated back into the hallway, closing the door behind him. Hector stared at the door, feeling a tightness in his chest. What was going on with Quirin? He seemed to be upset with Hector, but instead of saying what was wrong he just smiled and responded with gentle words. He acted like he was trying to appease Hector or keep him calm, but that wasn't the brother that Hector knew.
They were family. If they had problems with each other, they were supposed to talk about it. Hector hadn't approved of his siblings abandoning their duties, and he'd said as much. Sure, he hadn't said a word about how he felt like they hadn't just abandoned their responsibilities, but they'd abandoned him as well, but he hadn't really had that many opportunities to say anything. If they were available to talk to in the first place, he wouldn't have any need to feel left behind.
He thought that his siblings wouldn't hesitate to share any qualms with each other, but apparently he was wrong. Adira apparently believed that Hector's goal of protecting the moonstone had been completely pointless, and that he was throwing his life away. The way she'd said it at the Great Tree, it made it sound like it was an opinion that she had held for a long time, but that had been the first that Hector had heard of it. Why hadn't Adira talked to him before, instead of letting twenty five years worth of resentment fester?
And now Quirin wasn't talking to Hector either. He was humoring and trying to placate him, but when Hector tried to really connect, Quirin pulled away.
Despite what he had told his brother, he really was tired. Hector laid back down and curled up into a tight ball, subconsciously trying to give himself the physical comfort that he was aching for from his siblings. His bearcats jumped onto the bed, nuzzling up against him. They weren't the siblings that Hector wanted, but they were his constant companions, and Hector was just glad that he had anybody at all.
Hector dozed off, not truly resting. He woke up a few hours later, feeling even more tired than before. His body was demanding that he roll over and go back to sleep, but his mind was not at peace. He felt like he had woken up for a reason. There was something out there, and Hector wouldn't be able to relax until he had made sure that his family was safe.
Hector pet his bearcats, muttering a reassurance at them, just telling them to go back to sleep. He got out of bed and wrapped his cloak tighter around him. The night air was cold, but it was a different chill than what he felt in the Dark Kingdom or in the Great Tree. He didn't know why it was different, he just knew that he didn't like it.
The first thing Hector did was open the window to see if there was anything out there. The small town was quiet, but looks could be deceiving. Hector climbed up onto the window and started making his way up to the roof. He knew that if he was going to be sneaking his way in, it would be through the roof. He liked having the high ground.
Hector climbed and scampered all over the roof of the castle, over all the turrets and slants. He was looking for any weakness in the roof. Holes or missing slabs that looked out of place, even in the worn-out castle.
When Hector was sure that the roof hadn't been compromised he started to look out over the horizon. He could see the whole village, and the paths leading away from it, all from this vantage point. If an enemy was making their way here, he would be able to get the jump on them.
He was trying to be vigilant, but he was tired, and his stomach hurt. He hadn't had a lot to eat yesterday, and nowhere near enough sleep. He could usually function on a day without sleep or food, but he had no idea how much of either he'd gotten while under Cassandra's control. He didn't even know how long he'd been her puppet. A few days? Weeks? Months?
Hector bit his lip harshly and punched the chimney. His fist scraped against some jagged rocks, drawing blood. Hector hissed and brought his hand to his chest. He couldn't help but smile to himself. His hand hurt. He could feel pain. He hadn't felt anything while under the mind-trap's influence. No pain whatsoever. Feeling pain now, it reminded him that his mind, and his body, were his own.
Hector took several deep breaths before he shook his hand out and punched the wall again. And again. And again. Over and over until his hand started to feel numb. He growled and switched hands. He needed more. He needed to feel something.
Between checking for weak spots, keeping watch, and reminding himself that he was fine, hours passed and soon there was a pre-dawn light peeking through the horizon in a hole in the border wall. Hector wouldn't have noticed it, but out of the corner of his eye he saw someone approaching from the west. Two figures on horses were coming this way.
Hector took a calming breath and forced himself to stop hitting the wall. He still needed that physical reminder, but he couldn't be selfish right now. If these people were threats, he needed to make sure that his family was safe.
Crouching low, Hector crawled to the edge of the roof, staying behind a tower so that he could see them without being seen himself. He narrowed his eyes when the figures kept on coming towards the castle. It was too early for visitors.
Hector was just trying to figure out how to get down without letting them out of his sight and revealing his position too soon, but then he heard a sound that made him stop. A familiar caw. Hector looked to the skies as he saw a familiar black bird circling around.
"Hamuel." Hector muttered. His brother's bird flew down closer to him before cawing and flying to the approaching figures, landing on the larger one's shoulder. "Edmund." His brother was here. The second figure must be his son.
Hector crouched over the ledge, gripping the sides with his hands, and jumped down. He could easily climb down from this height, but usually he wasn't so weak, tired, and working with hurt hands. He tried to grip the walls, but his fingers refused to work with him and he found himself falling.
Hector's eyes widened as he reached desperately for something that wasn't there. He felt like he could hear the echoes of a girlish whisper and laughter in his ears as he fell, and it sent shivers down his spine, but it vanished when he landed on the ground with a harsh thud.
The wind was knocked out of him and Hector's vision went white as he lay there dazed for a long moment. His head was pounding and he could hear frantic voices calling out to him. He didn't know how long it took, but eventually he opened his eyes to see Edmund and Eugene looking down at him.
"-tor…Hector!" Edmund's voice came through the daze. Hector groaned and blinked, focusing on his brother.
"M'okay." Hector groaned. He took Eugene's offered hand and let himself be pulled to his feet.
"Okay? You fell off a roof!" Eugene exclaimed. "What were you even doing up there?"
"Seeing the view." Hector said. "And I've had worse."
Eugene frowned. "Coming from anybody else, I wouldn't believe you. But, yeah, I guess this fall wasn't as bad as the Great Tree. At least there wasn't demon glowing vines this time." Eugene's tone was slightly teasing. He sounded so much like Edmund when he was worried about something but trying so hard to not show it.
Hector's breath hitched and for a very brief moment he found himself back at the Heart of the Great Tree, hearing the irresistible pull and alluring whisper of the spirit trapped within the tree…the spirit that he had freed.
Hector shuddered and pulled his hand away from Eugene's. He wrapped his arms around himself and walked towards the door, ignoring Edmund and Eugene calling out to him. He felt cold and vulnerable out here. He didn't know what he was looking for inside, but he needed something.
As Hector stepped past the threshold he heard Edmund ask Eugene what had happened at the Great Tree. He felt like his heart stopped as he slammed the door shut behind him, leaning against it, feeling completely drained. Edmund didn't know, and now he was going to learn. He would know of Hector's shameful actions.
It was terrifying that Adira and Quirin knew that he had freed Zhan Tiri, but Edmund had always been more dedicated to their responsibilities then they were. If anybody was going to be disgusted and horrified with his actions, it would be his king. What respect Edmund held for him would vanish in just a moment, and Hector would have one less sibling to rely on.
Hector leaned against the door and rubbed his eyes, forgetting about the blood on his knuckles. He hissed as he got blood into his eyes and rubbed against his irritated hands. Hector swore loudly and shook his hands and kicked the wall. His eye was watering now as it burned.
Hector's vision was a little blurred as he staggered through the darkness of the unfamiliar home. His back hurt and his legs shook. He stumbled to a more spacious room, only to find it being lit by a soft green glow that seemed to pierce through the darkness. Hector yelped and stumbled back in alarm, tripping over his own feet and falling to the ground.
He gasped and stared at the almost ghostly glow, oblivious to everything else in the room. He knew it wasn't Zhan Tiri. She was gone. He had witnessed it himself. But this glow seemed to seep into his very soul. He couldn't move.
"N-no." Hector nearly whimpered. "Not again." The spirit within the Heart of the Great Tree had manipulated him and made him a tool to destroy his very home. At the time, he hadn't even noticed what was going on. He thought that he was the one in control. He'd been a fool. The spirit had pulled at his thoughts and body, and it had been his own fault.
Now there was a glow, and he couldn't move his body as he felt like he should. He felt helpless. What if he became the monster's little plaything all over again, someone to tug at and manipulate until he did its deeds for it? What if it played with his feelings until he was furious enough at his siblings that he actually wanted to hurt them?
They weren't safe. Hector couldn't trust Cassandra for everything she had done, but he couldn't trust himself just as much. She'd made the mistake of listening to the demon's manipulation, but hadn't he done the same thing? If anything, Hector was worse. He actually knew how dangerous Zhan Tiri was, but he'd still let himself be lured into her trap.
If he didn't think his family was safe as long as Cassandra was around, then how could he think that they were safe as long as he was here?
"Hector?" He heard Adira's tired voice. There were three forms moving in the darkness, but Hector barely noticed them. His eyes were on the glow. "What are you doing?"
"What's going on?" Varian sounded half asleep.
"What's wrong?" Quirin sounded equally protective and exasperated, as though he was worried about a potential problem, but also cautious about a problem that one of them might have caused.
There was some shifting around and some sounds of liquid being poured, and then the green glow grew brighter. Hector instinctively curled in on himself with a whine. He pushed himself against the wall as much as he could, shaking as he did.
"Hector?" Adira sounded alarmed now. He heard some shuffling. "Are you alright?"
"Leave me alone." Hector said. He tried to sound angry, but it just came off as shaky and uncertain. He sounded scared and desperate. "Please."
"Hector?" He heard the sound of a door opening and Edmund's voice. He didn't sound angry, but he should. Hector didn't deserve their concern. Not after everything he'd done.
He felt large hands on his shoulders. He leaned into the touch, but didn't look up. "Brother, it's okay." Quirin said. "Can you talk to us?"
He didn't want to talk about it, but he had to. He knew that if he didn't, he would just be a hypocrite, as it was something that he was getting upset at his siblings for.
"The glow." Hector said quietly. "Zhan Tiri."
Varian gasped and there were a few quiet thuds. "Sorry, sorry." The kid said awkwardly. "It's just a nightlight I made with alchemy."
Hector forced himself to relax and lifted his head just enough to peek above his knees. The glow wasn't gone completely, but it was dimmed drastically as Varian had put a cover over the source.
"A-a nightlight." As though Hector hadn't felt humiliated enough. He was cowering from something that was made to chase away a child's nightmares. Hector growled to himself and pushed Quirin's hands away. His eyes adjusted in the darkness and he could see just enough to notice Quirin and Eugene stiffening and moving closer to Varian, almost protectively.
Hector blinked, suddenly feeling like he was a child all over again. He'd been a temperamental child, but not a violent one. Not that people believed him. Whenever Hector expressed frustration with himself, the people around him would flinch and move protectively in front of their women and children, as though they were worried that he was going to attack them.
Hector's chest tightened. He looked at his brother. "You don't seriously think that I would hurt your kid, do you?"
"I…of course not." Quirin said. Hector stood up and stepped towards his brother, seething when Quirin instinctively took a step back.
"Since when do you see me as a threat?" Hector asked.
"I don't." Quirin said sternly.
"But you think I'm unstable." Hector said.
Quirin sighed. "I think that you're hurting, and tired, and confused. You've been through a lot, Brother."
"We've all been through a lot." Hector growled. "But you're not looking at Adira or Edmund like they're going to break down or break something at a moment's notice."
"We're just worried about you." Adira said in that tone of hers that was just as annoyed as it was concerned.
"I'm fine." Hector said.
"If you were fine then you wouldn't have panicked about a nightlight." Edmund said casually. He didn't sound like he was making an accusation, just making an observation. "And the castle servants wouldn't have told us that you had a breakdown yesterday."
Hector felt a shiver go down his spine. "You know about that?" He looked at all of his siblings. The room was just bright enough for him to see the pitying and slightly guilty expressions on their faces. Hector let out a shuddered breath. "You knew, and you just stayed at the party?" He'd broken down twice, and his siblings knew, and they'd done nothing.
"We thought you needed space." Adira said. Hector let out a dry laugh.
"Space," Hector couldn't think of any time in his life when he wanted to be alone. If he was upset, he needed his siblings. "Is that why you all slept down here together, even when I specifically told you that I wanted to sleep near you guys?" Quirin looked stricken and his eyes flashed with guilt, but Hector wasn't done yet.
"Is that why you didn't say a word to me about staying with you until after your son said something?" Hector asked. "Is that why I haven't heard a word from any of you for twenty five years? Because you thought that I needed space?"
"Brother-" Adira reached for him. Her tone and slow movement felt like she was reaching for a frightened animal. Hector growled and stormed away, moving past Edmund and Eugene as he made his way outside.
"Hector, wait!" He heard Quirin running to catch up to him. Hector clenched his teeth and ran to his rhino, hoisting himself onto its back. He didn't want to leave his bearcats, but they were smart creatures. Wherever he went, they would find him. They'd catch up in just a few hours. But Hector couldn't stop to get them. He needed to get away.
Quirin grabbed at his arm. "Please, stop." He said desperately, pleading.
"Why should I?" Hector glared at his brother. "You think I need space, and you're so sure that you know better than me what I need, fine, I'll get some space." He yanked his arm away and urged his rhino on. They were off before Quirin could get another word out.
His head was pounding and his heart hurt. Everything in him wanted to turn around and crawl back to his sibling's arms, but he refused to look back. He felt like they didn't trust him, and he didn't want to open himself up just to be hurt by them again.
Besides, they were better off without him. Despite what Quirin said, he clearly didn't trust Hector, and he'd always been a good judge of character. If he thought Hector was a threat to Varian, then he shouldn't be around the kid.
He didn't know where he was going, but anywhere would be better than this deceitfully bright kingdom of fake smiles and false hope.