The next two days dragged miserably, and Maize couldn't keep herself occupied enough to pass the time. Between Celese's note to Lawson Forge, and the discovery of the information about the revenant, Maize's mind was a flurry of questions, hypotheticals, and pain.

Knowing that Celese had reached out to Forge told her she knew about the search for Lusciana's Legacy, and offered her up for the right price. So then, did that mean Celese knew about their plans all along? Had she sent them on that mission because she knew Lawson Forge would be waiting there to speak with them? Or was the mission in place and she informed Forge where they could be found?

It also meant the assumptions about Ress being a traitor were false, and perhaps even a test. If Celese wanted out of the way, she could have found other ways to do so, unless she wanted to drive a wedge between them by having Maize look into the accusations. She could have been testing them for weakness to further determine Maize's loyalties, as well. Or, as she also suspected, could have assumed Maize would not turn Ress in, and either agree and tell Ress what was going on, or outright refuse and still tell Ress what was going on.

She wondered how Celese felt about the ruse about Aunt Clora...

To keep up the facade, Maize did pen another letter to Celese to update her on the death of Ress' fictional aunt. As intended she informed the Denmother they would need to remain away for at least until the end of the funeral receptions and would return to Dreduor at that time. Sealing it with wax, she sent it off to the post, though knowing now what she didn't before, she imagined Forge was having her letters intercepted and their whereabouts checked. If he wasn't, he was stupider than she gave him credit for.

She would need to decide how they proceeded once Ress returned. It was the ridiculous amount of reward money that brought them there in the first place, with thoughts and dreams of finally having enough to leave the Den behind and finding Maize the help she so needed. However, with Celese involved, there was now the question of how much money they'd actually receive if they turned in the Legacy as agreed. Was there honor and would they receive the promised gold, or was it already dishonored when Maize agreed to a mission outside of the Den's code, therefore forfeiting her reward? Or was there nothing to receive and no more than betrayal and deception from the very start?

And Celese mentioned Laris seeking her out- why? What was Laris' part in all of this and what did he already know? What else could he know, and how much did Maize want to tell him? In the time since he had departed, she realized there was actually a lot she wanted to tell him. But could she tell him everything?

Too many questions and she didn't have the answers.

All of it was shadowed, however, by the paper she stole from Forge's room. She had discovered the term revenant through her own research, but none of the standard texts she had access to explained anything further, but still she used it to give context to the hell she was living. Discovering more about it, to hear it considered a curse- she was afraid to know more but needed more answers.

Even as the pain in her skull had been near unbearable since she left Forge's rooms. Like the voice inside her head was revolting because she dared to think more about what had happened to her.

Even as she finally began to realize what had truly happened to her brother...

Lies, lies lies...

Erebyn had many secrets, and mostly all of them were at the expense of those he loved. He had lost too much of himself in personal gain, possessions became more important than companionship, and when the money began to run out, he started turning to the wrong people.

And started offending the wrong people.

But how did Erebyn get himself involved with someone powerful enough to manipulate a revenant?

Enough questions. There are no answers.

It would be incredibly difficult to get any answers when the only person who can tell her any of them was dead.

The day after the hunt, the return of the royal coterie was cut through with cries and yells of concern and pain. If Maize hadn't been in the gardens trying to get some fresh air while clearing her head from the chaos, she may not have known from the other side of the castle. She was never one to miss out on the possibility for gossip and rushed to find out, though made certain she maintained her feet on the group and not on the rooftops like she so often preferred.

By the time she walked around to the front of the castle, she noticed that the royal carriage was nowhere in sight. Frowning in disappointment, however, she did notice that there were a few of the lords' entourages pulling up, and the one with the most noise coming from it looked to be the coach from Alynthi.

"Be careful with him," Lady Findara scolded a few nearby servants who looked to be carrying a large wooden plank, and on that plank was Cade whose leg looked to be wrapped in a bloody bandage.

Cade looked like he would have rather his leg be chopped off, though by the amounts of blood it very well could have been. No human being should have been known to make the noise Cade was making and she wished someone would put him out of his misery if only to make him stop.

Others had gathered, and people were whispering among themselves wondering if anyone knew what had happened. Soon Maize was able to discern that there had been an accident, while on the Hunt, but not during the hunt. It seemed that it happened overnight after Cade had apparently won the honor of the King's favor the day before, and the camp was woken by screams, not unlike the ones Cade continued to make. Some thought it was the mate of the beast he slaughtered coming for retribution, others believed it was a jealous lord who believed he should have had the glory and honor of the hunt, while others believed there was something far more sinister at play and dared not speak of it where others could listen.

Maize craned her neck to see if there was any sight of anyone else arriving, but there were no more coaches in sight. She needed to talk to Ress all the more now, fearing that something just as potentially sinister could have befallen him as well.

She returned to the castle when the others started clearing out, returning to her rooms and pacing the length while she waited for Ress to return.

It was near dusk by the time he knocked on her door, and she lunged herself into his arms as soon as he was able.

"I'm alright," he said softly, rubbing her back and she hugged him around his neck.

She didn't have words for him- not yet. She had too much she needed to tell him but just for a moment wanted to cherish the time with him before she threw their world into great chaos.

He let her take as much time as she needed, and Maize lost track of how many minutes passed before she finally let him go and took a step back.

"Were you able to find what you needed?" she asked, remembering the purpose for Ress joining the servants on the hunt to begin with.

"Almost," he said, nodding. "I was almost to find the person within the market who supplied them to someone within the castle, and now I need to find this source and see if they can give me the herbs we need."

"Do you know who it is you're looking to meet?" There were so many people already in the castle, with so many more arriving each day to prepare for Remembrance Day, Maize wasn't even sure she'd be able to pick them out if he did know.

As it was, Ress shook his head. "The merchant didn't feel comfortable disclosing that information, but did say they would arrange for a... drop... so to speak."

"I can take it on from here," she offered. "You've already done so much-"

"Which is why I need to follow it through. Who knows what the merchant is going to tell his contact, and what would happen if someone that didn't match my description was involved. Not to mention, you're starting to be known around the castle, Maize. I can't put you in any jeopardy."

She understood his reasoning, but... "How am I beginning to be known?"

He gave her a slow grin. "Other than the spectacle of you and Laris at the ball, there have been rumors of the two of you spending some extra time with one another. Reading in the library. Talking in the gardens. Kissing in the gardens..."

Maize's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed, to which Ress cackled.

"It wasn't from Laris' mouth, though, so you can't get mad at him for that. But he didn't deny it either. In fact, he reacted very much like you are right now."

"And I assume you didn't dare defend my honor?"

"First, what honor? Second, I was there as a lowly servant, remember? They had hardly noticed I was there which is why I was probably able to get close enough to hear what the lords were discussing. The only ones who gave me any courtesy were Cade and Laris."

"Speaking of, what happened to Cade?" She decided it was the next best thing to ask.

Or perhaps it wasn't, as Ress' once cheerful demeanor dropped. "Are you sure you don't already know?"

She offered her own frown in response. "Only what the ladies wanted to gossip about when he returned. What really happened?"

"I was hoping you could tell me the same thing."

"I don't understand..."

"C'mon, Maize, even for you this is too much."

Maize blinked. "What is it you think I did?"

"I'm still trying to figure out how you managed it in such little time."

"Managed what?"

Ress just sighed, shaking his head. "All he remembered was a voice hissing in his ear Leave them alone. So, unless he has a track record of having heated conversations with other hot-headed women known to seek out retribution when they're wronged, something tells me it may have been referring to you."

"And how do you know Findara doesn't have something going on on the side and she set her husband up as retribution for what he's done to her?"

"That would insinuate that Findara actually cares."

"You don't think she does?"

"I don't think Cade does."

"Clearly, look at what he's been doing with you."

"Which is irrelevant to the conversation at hand."

"I disagree since it's exactly that which has you actually believing that I would have had something to do with Cade's attack."

"I don't see why he would lie about something like that."

"I don't see how he wouldn't!"

A knock on the door had them both spinning towards it, and Laris entered without promoting. He looked as surprised to see them both there as they were to see them, but Maize was grateful for the interruption if only to recenter herself.

"My apologies," Laris said, almost too meekly for a prince. "I don't mean to bother."

"No, it's fine, come in-" Maize started.

"Yes, do come in, Prince. I was just leaving," Ress snapped.

Maize scowled at him but he was already out the door pushing past the prince and not looking back.

"I'm... sorry," she said, though she hated having to apologize for Ress. "I think he's just upset still about what happened on the Hunt."

"You mean to Caden?"

Maize nodded.

"Yes, very unfortunate," the Prince said as he clicked the door shut behind him. "We have our best healers working on him, so I'm certain they'll be able to save his leg."

"Do you know what happened to him?"

Laris shrugged. "I assumed a beast trap of some sort, by the look of the damage. I returned later than I planned because my father wanted me to survey the surrounding woods to make sure none others were left behind."

"You don't think I had anything to do with it, do you?"

"Now why do you think that would be the case?"

Maize shrugged. "You know how rumors go."

"I promise, I don't believe you had anything to do with what happened to Caden. He can scream about it as much as he wants, and he's probably just angry he won't be able to show off at the Grand Tournament now. But know that as a courtier to the Prince, I will always support you."

"At least someone does..."

Laris frowned. "Is that what you and Restor were arguing about before I arrived?"

She brushed her hand in the air as if swatting a fly. "He's just mad he won't be able to get his load off while Cade is in the infirmary."

Laris snorted. "Not exactly the privilege language I'd have expected from a Lady such as yourself."

"I thought we already talked about what kind of lady I am."

"The one who would have nightly trysts in the castle gardens if allowed?" His voice purred over her skin.

She bit her lip. "Maybe."

"Which brings me to the reason I'm here."

She watched him expectantly and he offered her his arm.

"No expectations. Just upholding a promise."

She cracked a smile. "It is after the hunt after all."

"So is that a yes?"

She laced her arm through his. "Lead the way."