Things did not improve much through the next day's march. Since the bulk of their group were injured, they went at an even more relaxed pace than the former combined force had. As the wagons were all occupied, Ibis found himself walking while continuing his instruction - except his unusual pupil was clearly distracted.
"Is something troubling you?" the Skywing mage asked, although he already had a decent idea.
"Huh?" Callum asked, then smiled sheepishly, "Oh, sorry. It's nothing."
"I somehow doubt that," Ibis said, mildly amused by the repeated excuse. He looked up, where Rayla was happily chatting away with her foster parents.
The prince followed his gaze, then sighed, "I guess you're right. I just… don't really know how to act around Runaan."
"Because he killed your father?" the Skywing elf asked.
Some would express surprise that he was a blunt person - he'd been told it was his easy-going nature that made it seem odd. In reality, it was his easy-going nature that made him blunt - like most with the Sky arcanum, he greatly valued freedom. Which included the freedom to express himself - and by doing so, he never let anything bottle up inside.
"That's… part of it," Callum agreed, looking at the ground, "But… the night it happened, that was when I first met him. Rayla tried to stop the assassination by showing him we had Zym's egg - but he didn't believe Ez and I were trustworthy."
"I could certainly see that," Ibis said.
"So when he saw me yesterday night," the prince went on, "He apologized for misjudging us."
The Skywing mage hummed, considering. As a liaison, he had been in contact with various elven leaders for many years - as such, he was familiar with how their communities operated. Moonshadow assassins were honorable - they would always spill as little blood as possible to achieve their goal, and chose their targets carefully.
While Runaan may have apologized for misjudging Ezran and Callum, he would never apologize for taking their father's life - he couldn't.
"Sorry," Callum grinned, "You don't have to say anything - I just… gotta work through this."
He's surprisingly mature, Ibis thought nodded, Or perhaps not, considering all he's been through.
"We can take it easy on the lessons in the meantime," the Skwywing elf said, "Though this was just the informal basics."
"Thanks," Callum said, then looked over, "I'm kind of more worried about Soren, to be honest. I'm not really sure why he's so… intense."
"I share your concern," Ibis said, looking over himself.
Soren was walking with General Amaya - at her insistence. He was glaring at the ground most the time - but it was obvious by the odd glance that whatever rage he was feeling was directed at Runaan.
"You guys are like, friends now, right?" the prince asked.
"I would say we are," the Skywing elf nodded, "However… with your similar history, I believe you could both benefit from talking with each other."
Callum sighed, scratching the back of his neck, "Maybe?"
As they spoke, the trio of Moonshadow elves were having their own discussion.
"If he glares at me one more time, I'm not going to hold back," Runaan said, breaking into Rayla's recounting of her adventures returning Zym.
"Just let it go, my heart," Ethari said, "We'll soon be parting ways."
Rayla frowned at that - she still hadn't told her foster dads about her relationship with Callum… or decided if she was going to return to the Silvergrove herself. Instead, she said, "He's a dumb lump, but he has a good heart - he's jus'... goin' through some shite, is all."
"And I have gone through hell," Runaan replied coldly, "At the hands of his father - he can go through shite and then some."
"Isn't it obvious he already has?" Ethari sighed, "The deed is done, you knew the cost."
His husband sighed, and seemed to relax a bit, "You're right - it's unbecoming of an assassin to-"
"Begrudge a grudge?" Rayla asked, raising a finger with a wan smile.
Runaan sighed, unimpressed as Ethari snorted.
Meanwhile, Soren jumped at a hand on his shoulder.
Amaya offered him a measured look, then started signing, "I know how you feel, but you have to leave it be."
"I know," Soren said, even as he clenched his fist so hard it shook, "I'm not going to start anything. But I… I can't help how I feel."
Amaya sighed, but nodded, "As long as you understand."
When they made camp, Soren went off almost immediately on his own.
He didn't notice Runaan watch him, eyes narrowed.
"Don't do something ye'll regret," Ethari told him, startling him, "I know I can't stop you, but be reasonable."
"Do you really trust him?" his husband asked, "The son of a dark mage?"
The Moonshadow artisan sighed, shaking his head, "It doesn't matter if I do as long as you don't."
"I won' lose my head," Runaan promised, "But I can' let it be - not entirely."
Ethari nodded, and sighed as his husband slipped away.
Callum stayed to help with setting up camp before searching out the Crownguard. A bit off from the others, in a copse of trees next to a river, Callum found Soren training.
"Soren?" the prince called out.
The Crownguard finished a swing, then turned, "Oh, hey, Callum."
"Can we um… talk?" Callum asked, walking closer.
"Uh, sure," Soren said, resting his sword against a nearby tree, "What about?"
"Um…" the prince went and sat on a conveniently fallen log, "Well, to be honest… Runaan."
"Oh," the Crownguard replied, sitting heavily next to him.
Nearby, the Moonshadow assassin snorted softly, hiding behind a nearby tree. I'd at least understand if Callum was the one holding a grudge.
"You've been… really down lately," Callum started, "And I get it - totally understand. But… you weren't angry until Runaan showed up."
"I don't get how you're not angry," Soren huffed, "He killed your dad."
"I don't get it either," Callum said, leaning back and looking up, "I know he did, and maybe I should be angry, but I'm just… not."
The prince sighed, "Before the assassination, my dad wrote me a letter - about not letting the past bind you. Our dads killed Thunder, and stole Zym - because Thunder killed my mom. And it just… keeps going back like that. People just keep hurting each other, over and over again without end."
"Yeah," Soren said, "I guess I get that."
Callum nodded, "I'm still sad that my dad died, but I just… I don't know. I don't look at Runaan and think about my dad's death - and I don't think my dad would want me to be angry about it, either. Honestly I'm more worried about how he'll react when Rayla tells him and Ethari we're dating…"
Runaan's eyes widened in surprise as he flinched, then rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, That girl…
"I get it," Soren sighed, "He seems like an intense guy."
"So, why does he make you so angry?" the prince asked, looking back at his childhood friend.
The Crownguard was quiet for a time, looking at his hands - at least they'd stop shaking, "You know I was one of the soldiers guarding your dad - the night of the assassination."
"Yeah?" Callum said, sitting back up.
"I just… I was there, Callum," Soren said, letting his hands drop, "When King Harrow was…"
The prince's eyes widened in surprise, then he frowned, looking down sadly.
"It felt like there was nothing I could do - I failed," the Crownguard sighed, "But that's not… the worse part."
"What's the worse part?" Callum asked, softly.
"I just keep thinking… about how if I'd been able to protect your dad, none of this would have happened," Soren grit his teeth, clenching his fists, "I'm angry and ashamed that I failed in the first place, but… but when I think about how King Harrow would have stopped my dad from being able to do all these horrible things-!"
The prince didn't seem to know how to respond, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
The Crownguard sighed again, deflating, "Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize," Callum said.
"Yeah, I do," Soren looked up, "It was my job to protect your dad, and I failed. And it was my job to protect Ezran, and I failed at that, too."
"Soren…" the prince frowned, "It's… it's okay. You figured it out in the end, and you saved Ezran, too. And, hey, both our dads are dead, so… we're even!"
Soren just… stared in disbelief.
"That…" Callum sighed, and scratched at his lip, "Was dumb. Sorry."
No kidding, Runaan thought from his hiding place.
But Soren laughed, covering his eyes with a hand.
I guess it's better than crying…? Callum thought.
After a few moments, Soren got a hold of himself, "I guess I can accept that. I mean, it was pretty dumb, but I'm not super smart anyways."
The prince chuckled nervously, "That's good…?"
"But," the Crownguard grew serious again, "That's got nothing to do with Runaan."
"Huh?" Callum asked, "It doesn't?"
Soren shook his head, "Whenever I look at that guy, I just… it's like all my failures are staring me back in the face. Because not stopping him started all of this - and now I just have to… stand by and do nothing. Ignore my feelings and do 'the right thing.' Like I always did. And even though it's really the right thing this time, it just... "
"I… don't understand," the prince said, frowning.
"But I do."
Soren and Callum looked up in surprise as Runaan revealed himself. The Moonshadow assassin walked to the tree where Soren had left his sword, and picked it up.
Soren stood, heart racing and muscles tensing.
Runaan tossed the weapon over, and drew his short swords, "Draw."
The Crownguard caught his sword easily, and met the assassin's gaze.
The elf was calm, but alert - and laced with intensity.
Soren nodded, unsheathing his sword and getting into his own stance, "Yeah."
"Wait wait wait!" Callum said, scrambling to his feet and getting between the two, "You two can't-!"
Runaan moved, immediately ducking to the side and running around Callum to strike, "Don't get in the way!"
Soren blocked, deflecting the blow away from Callum, "Just go!"
Callum was forced to back away, tripping in his backward scramble as the combatants fully engaged. For a few minutes, he could only watch, eyes wide in fear. Then he shook his head and forced himself to his feet - maybe he couldn't stop them, but he'd bet Aunt Amaya could!
So, listening to the clash of swords behind him, the prince ran back to camp to get help.