Sand was falling around them once more, their rides snorting and huffing. The going was slow.
Noon had passed by a few hours and the corn field was only just now coming up on their left. Callum marveled at the colors he could glimpse here and there. Corn, to him, was supposed to be solid yellow. These fruits were radiant, all colors of the rainbow represented.
The headband was comfortable but the weight of the scabbards was not. How did Rayla hold herself so gracefully with that much heft to her head?
After they had disguised him, she had given her opinion: "He's cute as an elf, too, but I already miss his rosey tone."
His girlfriend had switched back to her uniform for the ride. The image of her in the dress still swam on the prince's mind. He was looking forward to teaching her to dance, now more than ever.
They were about to stop, when Rayla pointed into the distance. "Look, someone's comin'"
It was true. There was another rider, approaching them slowly. Rayla drew her blades without unfurling them, putting them in her lap. Callum shoved Zym in his saddle bag and latched it shut. The little dragon seemed to be getting used to this annoying treatment at this point.
After a moment, the figure was clearly recognizable as an old male elf, studying the rows of corn. Ever so often he'd stop to grab an ear to examine it.
"Greetn's!", he yelled as he noticed the troop.
Rayla blanched. This elf was Sconi. If he recognized her, there would be trouble.
"Aloha!", Honsa replied.
They stopped as the elf came into speaking range.
"What do we have here?", the man started in a welcoming tone, "A cuple kinspeople and a nose diver! What brin's you oot here?"
Honsa frowned at him while Rayla answered.
"We're just passin' on by to Veltis-Tiram."
"Oh! Another big town crowd! The name's Otark."
"Entwen", Callum said.
"Tarla", Rayla said.
"Honsa", Honsa said, giving a sheepish look. She had not thought of an alias. Then again, she probably didn't really need one - yet.
Otark nodded, repeating their names back to them, "A tend this farm. You got a place tae rest?"
`At least he didn't recognize me`, Rayla thought wryly, `Here it comes. Two seconds into meetin' us.`
"Why don't you join me and my other guests for the night? It's gettin' late oot already!"
Yes. Two, maybe three o'clock in the afternoon was terribly late.
"We really gotta get on", Rayla said hopelessly.
"Nah, ye don't!", Otark waved at her, "Look at these juicy, fat ears o' corn, woman! There's enough for all of you! Don't blow me off! A'm an auld man without a lot of people to keep company. Full house's welcome as a good harvest."
Rayla's half closed eyes and drooping ears showed how happy she was about this, but she gruffly waved him on, "Thank you for the invitation."
They started following him back in the direction he had come from.
"So, Veltis-Tiram, eh?", the farmer said with interest, "A havnae been there fer yonks, had a load o' fun at the docks. Nice ships. Better drinks."
"Never been", Rayla intoned, "You said you had other guests?"
"Yea! Busy place! Week ago, whole Legion came threw. Abusers havin' some sort of flap at the border, A'm guessin'. Eh, you know how it is. Auxilia takes what they need, then", he blew through his teeth in an ascending whistle while waving his hand ahead, "oan their cuddies. No fun to be had with those people."
Otark eyed Rayla's uniform, "Bonnie, tha's a braw pair 'o breeks. Lucid?"
"Ye ken A cannae tell ye if A was, ye goon!", she replied, sounding offended.
Callum snorted quietly at the fact that talking to Otark made her own accent thicker to the point where he had trouble understanding her.
"Oh A wisnae meanin' to pry, sorry! Ramblin' on, listen to me, auld fart!"
He laughed, then led his stag down a small path that led north, towards a good sized house near the forest.
"Who are your other guests?", Callum asked and Otark gave him a suspicious glean.
"Son, no offens', ye sound and look like a fandan", he grinned, turning back to watch the road, "It's some wifey and her lass. Says she heard her summand and lad are oot here somewhere. A'll introduce ye."
They all dismounted and Otark made a show of feeding their rides and filling up their feed bags.
At least now they wouldn't have to steal. Callum felt quite relieved.
"Misfortune has it", Otark said, "The house is full; havnae had so many people since forever an' A'm usin' some of the bedrooms fer storage. But ye can grab a bundle of hay in the barn tonight; It's nice and new. Carried it in last moon with my lad."
Honsa waited until Otark had went inside, then she grabbed Zym, motioning at the Barn he'd mentioned. Rayla and Callum nodded and went after the farmer, finding the inside rather cozy.
There was a kitchen on their left, a fire set in the stove. On it, a giant pot was boiling. It was tended by an older moonshadow woman whose face looked careworn but full of the telltale signs of frequent smiles. She wore a beautifully ornate blue and silver duster with a simple dark gray linen shirt and pants.
Ahead were stairs that led to the upper floor of the building. From the top of the stairs, a much younger moonshadow woman, who seemed oddly familiar, was watching the new arrivals. She was lounging on the floor, her head resting on her clasped hands.
To their right was the living room, a long table with enough room for three generations of family to eat together. The room was `L` shaped, running the length of the house both ways around the stairs.
Rayla noticed that there was a thin layer of dust over almost everything, safe for a comfortable looking armchair in the corner and a small table next to it. Otark had not been kidding. He was lonely out here.
"More guests!", Otark announced, "Here's Tarla, Entwen and… Oh, where'd the nose diver go? Well A'll be!", he shook his head, then continued the introductions, "These lovely creatures are Interpreter Anzha and her lass, Noli", he gestured at the older woman and their younger observer.
Rayla and Callum gave each other a shocked, meaningful look.
"Well met", Anzha said, smiling. Noli simply raised a bored hand, waving tepidly.
Callum stopped short as Anzah signed at her daughter, 'Be nice and at least try to look friendly.'
Out loud, she added "My daughter is deaf and cannot speak. She doesn't mean to be rude. If you'd like to speak to her, you may use me as a conduit."
They each said their helloes. Then, Otark left to finish his inspection and Honsa joined them, striking up a conversation about the Dipplings Anzha was preparing.
Rayla pulled Callum aside. "These people...", she whispered and he interrupted, "...are Helmond's family. I know! I remember the letter... Rayla, what do we do? I didn't know Anzha was an Interpreter!"
It felt wrong to not tell them what they knew about Torlan and his father. At the same time, it didn't feel like it was their place. Maybe it was even dangerous, it could expose them, especially given that Anzha was close to a dragon.
Callum already felt nervous about his ears. They were just barely hidden by the headband. The prince was alright with his hands, covered by ill-fitting four fingered gloves, his pinky squeezed in with his ring finger. It would be odd for him to keep them on all the time, but could be excused easily.
Rayla's face was full of tension, then slackened. "We need to tell them. I'd feel terrible if we didn't. We got their family into so much trouble, Callum… I just don't know how to bring it up to them...", she sighed sadly.
Callum nodded slowly. "I think the best time to tell them is probably right now. Who knows how often we're gonna be alone with them."
His girlfriend shrugged her assent.
Callum took a deep breath.
"Anzha?", he said, walking out from under the stairs. Honsa and the older elf looked at him expectantly, having interrupted their conversation about starchy vegetables.
"You're an Interpreter?"
"Indeed", she smiled, "I know it must be odd to see one just… wandering around without a templar escort. I've been released of my duties to Triton for a sabbatical."
Honsa gaped. "You're interpreting for the ocean regent?"
"I am one of his servants at the assembly in Veltis-Tiram, yes.", she frowned, being asked excited personal questions did not appeal to her much, "Actually, maybe you can help - have you been at Larwein? I am looking for my summand and my son, both of which are supposed to be near there."
"Your summand… is his name Helmond?", Rayla asked worriedly.
Anzha nodded slowly, hope and surprise grasping her expression.
Callum breathed out slowly. "In that case, you and Noli should have a seat."