Zen hadn't returned until very late at night. Barret was barely asleep when the door to his room opened, and a slowly moving Zen crept back into the room. "Wudr you doin up still…" Barret mumbled in his drowzy state.
"Investigating. Go back to sleep."
"I'm not sleepin…" When Barret woke up in the morning, Zen was already awake, and laughing. He didn't remember saying anything to Zen last night, and was very embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it! It's my fault for staying out so late. If I'd realized you were going to try and stay up, I would have gotten back sooner. I'll be heading out again today, but don't wait up for me this time. I'll probably be out even later."
"What all are you 'investigating'? It's Lyn'Knoll! Sure, I don't fit in, but I don't fit in anywhere! Take a break for once, maybe you'll like it."
"I can't. Something about this town feels off."
"Oh, thank goodness it's not just me. People feel cold and distant, right?"
"I'm not sure about that, but there's definitely something going on here. Do me a favor today?"
"What do you need?"
"Just keep your eyes open. Pay attention to who's around you. I noticed yesterday that for a town that everyone is supposedly living in harmony, there's a lot of separation between the two races. And the few Basitin we saw two days ago when we got here are gone. I never saw them leave, but I've asked a handful of people and not gotten a consistent answer. I've heard they were merchants that left in the evening, they were diplomats on a mission and only stopped for supplies, even that they were spies and left town after being found out. Something just isn't right about it, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it. I know Keith and Natani can handle themselves, so could I have you keep an eye on Trace and Flora?"
"You can count on me. Oh, you should visit the clothier on the southeastern side of town. He seems to know everything that's going on. Strangely, he's the only one who felt like I was talking to an actual person. His name was Tauh."
"I'll pay him a visit, thanks." With that, Zen left the room, and Barret followed shortly after. Trace and Flora were already downstairs finishing breakfast when Barret joined them. Kemnet was serving breakfast to a group of humans, the same humans who had been in here the last three days. They had their usual coffees and one had tea while being mocked.
"Mind if I join you two today? Give Keith and Nat a chance to spend some time alone."
"Not at all, happy to walk with you. What do you want to do today?" Flora said with a big smile. Nothing could break her spirits, nothing could bring her down. The world could be falling apart, and she would shine through the void with a smile that could unite the world. Barret couldn't help but smile back.
"I'm not sure. I'm quite content to go anywhere as long as I'm not alone." His mind flew back to his room, where his bag rested behind the door. "Actually… I could look for a bow and quiver. One that's properly made, something more than just a bendy stick with a bit of string."
"We're still looking for someone who can marry us. I thought it would be easier." Trace shook his head. "Every town has to have someone that can perform marital duties, right?"
"You would think." As the day went on, Trace, Flora and Barret wandered the streets, talking to anyone they met. Barret was rather closed off, and couldn't fathom just walking up to strangers to ask them questions, but Flora was the exact opposite. Anyone and everyone she could see was just another friend to her, and she dragged Trace from person to person. The morning passed. The afternoon passed. Evening came, and they were no closer to finding someone ordained.
Barret wasn't paying any attention to the conversations. He was watching. Observing.
Zen was right. Though Flora and Trace were too busy to see it, humans and Keidrans stayed separate for the most part. Never too far apart, but only interacting when necessary, as though they were being commanded. Though Barret looked for bracelets, he could see no sign of any. As he followed Trace and Flora back to the inn, he watched still. Keidrans in the town seemed to favor their right leg when walking, just like Tauh had. When he brought up that strange piece of information to Flora, she frowned, but responded with "You have to consider that a lot of Keidrans here probably came out of slavery. It's not uncommon. The last few years the slave trade has flourished under the Templar regime, so they probably came here to flee that. You sound like Zen with how much you worry."
"I prefer the term 'cautiously optimistic."
Keith and Natani were enjoying their day. Though it was cold and frosty, they had each other. They wandered the town with no destination in mind, simply happy to be alone. "You know, this is the first time we've actually had a day to ourselves." Keith said. "We had no privacy on the ship, I was distracted on the Basitin Isles, and at the estate you were figuring things out with Zen. And we've been traveling for so long with everyone else- not that I mind- but we haven't really had… us time."
"I know how you feel. It's… been a journey. I've had to come to terms with losing the link, being away from Zen, and traveling hasn't really helped. The war is a constant nagging in the back of my mind, and I don't know how to be 'me' after being linked with Zen for so long." The two sat beneath a barren tree beside a narrow road. "I can feel myself changing, becoming more me. And it's scary. I want to be myself, I want to know who I really am, but I don't want to lose who I was. I don't want to change too much, and I'm afraid that if I embrace everything I'm feeling too fast, I won't be the same person you know."
"You will always be my Natani. I'm actually glad you're embracing this new side of you." Keith leaned against her.
"Really?"
"It's nice, knowing you have a softer side. You used to be so hard and stoic, always trying to be the toughest person around. I know that side of you won't go away, that's part of who you are. And you aren't the only person who's changed. Did I ever tell you why I was traveling with Trace to begin with? I manipulated him. I had to bring him back so I could have my banishment lifted. After everything that happened, after he put up with me, he stuck out his neck, put himself in harms way to save me. He helped me break your illusion, he helped me see who I was. I can't deny that I still feel guilty about all of it."
"But that's not who you are anymore. You chose to come here with us, you chose to leave behind Lynn and Madelyn."
"I chose to disobey orders." Natani stared at him. "I'm an ambassador, a diplomatic envoy to the world. I'm supposed to be representing my people! And instead of doing what I was told, I ran away. Again. I disobeyed orders. Again. I chose to be with Trace. With Flora. With you."
"You didn't run away. In fact, I think you're doing exactly what was expected. I think King Adelaide expected you to act this way, to disobey orders. She's probably sitting somewhere with a cup of coffee, rather proud of you. You're representing your people right now. You're showing everyone that Basitins stick to their family, they protect each other, and they care."
"I suppose you're right. When you put it that way… maybe this was a good idea after all."
"Hey! Are you telling me you had doubts?" Keith shrugged, and Natani whacked his shoulder, laughing. Together, they sat for a while under the tree, happy to be together. Several humans and Keidrans glanced over as they passed, and Keith just smiled. Natani suddenly gasped, and clutched Keith's hand tightly. A brown Fox was walking down the street, a heavy cloak loosely hanging on his shoulders, and a longbow in his hand. As he walked past, he glanced down, but suddenly stopped and did a double take, before walking over.
"'Ello there. 'Ave we met before?"
"No, I don't think so." Natani replied.
"You sure? You look an awful lot like someone I used to work with. Crafty chap, he was."
"I'm pretty sure. What's your name?"
"Name's Aezr [Ae- ZR, like laser, but no L], yours?" Keith opened his mouth, but Natani quickly answered.
"Natasha. This is Kel." She squeezed his hand rather hard, her claws digging into him a bit.
"Pleasure to meet you Aezr."
"An' you. You're certain we aint ever met before? Maybe you have a twin brotha somewhere?"
"Nope. I'm an only child."
"I see. Well, enjoy yer stay in the city. I'll see ya 'round."
As soon as he was out of view, Natani pulled Keith up and whispered "We need to find Zen. Now."
"What's going on? Do you know him?"
"Aezr? How could I not know him? He's part of the Brotherhood!"