Ederra felt beads of cold sweat trickling down her rigid spine as she stood silently by the main entrance, nerveless fingers clutching painfully at her dress.

The man who had sparked such agitation could be found just a few paces away, surrounded by a flurry of frenzied retainers, directing the proceedings with the ease of experience. No one who personally witnessed the stubborn vigor of Minister Sebek would ever subscribe to the rumors that he was just another decrepit courtier dragging out his last stretch on this side of Mogara's gates in undue comfort and luxury. In the short time she had known him, Ederra had grown to respect him exceedingly, more than she did her own father after years spent under his tyranny. However, now that she'd had a glimpse into the man's broader future plans, she couldn't help but awaken to the danger she had placed herself in. Were he to find out about Meyo, that she knew of his plans, or her own intentions of helping Tahni with her mad schemes...

She braced herself against a shudder and accidentally elbowed Tahni, who was quite restless herself. Whether that was due to similar reasons, Ederra couldn't really tell.

Her friend leaned closer and whispered worriedly:

"Are you sure it's an even color? It looks a bit splotchy to me."

It took several seconds for her meaning to register, and when it did, Ederra glanced dubiously at her friend. She supposed it was just as well that the young woman wasn't unduly concerned about her father's freshly revealed nefarious plot, since Ederra worried enough for the both of them.

"It's not splotchy," she replied levelly. "It's avant-garde. You'll drop jaws wherever you go."

Tahni grumbled a reply, and Ederra thought she made out the word "nuisance", but Minister Sebek had just then detached himself from his entourage and was heading towards them. Her shoulders drew back of their own accord and she breathed in deeply, staring straight ahead. Fortunately, the man didn't seem to take notice of her uncomfortable posture, preoccupied as he was with another pressing issue.

With a spryness belying his age, Sebek turned lightly on his heels and hollered towards the back of the house, his sharp voice echoing across the hallways.

"Steppano Sebek! Son and heir of mine, your presence is required forthwith!"

Ederra took advantage of the opportunity to work her stiff body into a more normal posture, entirely expected of someone who was not stressed, guilty, or anticipating the worst. Peeking to her right where Tahni still fussed with her new garment, frowning at the slight discolorations on her sleeves and bodice, she prayed that they would all be able to enjoy a quiet carriage ride to the hunting grounds, given that each of them had enough worries on their mind. True, she would have infinitely preferred it had she and Tahni been allowed to travel alone, but Lady Belis had requisitioned the smaller vehicle they had employed so far, and Minister Sebek had insisted on bringing out the official conveyance - a great lumbering thing bearing the relatively new crest of the family. They would all travel together, presenting a unified front, which was certain to make it more difficult for Ederra were the old man's plot to be discovered and she summoned to justify her involvement.

"I don't know anything about anything," rang the quiet words she kept on repeating in her mind  while eyeing Sebek's deceptively scrawny figure. "I haven't heard anything, I won't do anything. I am entirely blameless."

Her hands had started trembling again and she clasped them together in a demure pose, summoning the greatest impression of innocence she had often used in her dealings with her father.

"What did you say?" yelled Minister Sebek, and Ederra's breath caught as the thought occurred that she might have spoken something out loud. Her dread was acute and agonizing, and seemed to last longer than the few seconds it took her until she registered the irritated voice replying to Sebek's demand. It was muffled by distance, but it could have only been Steppo.

"I said I'll meet you there."

Sebek shook his head, once again turning to face Ederra and Tahni.

"I tried," he muttered at the floor, then raised his head to smile at them both. "Shall we proceed?"

Ederra nodded her silent acquiescence, and trailed behind Tahni as they emerged in the front yard. The Sebek's official carriage looked even more daunting up close, and on any other occasion she would have remarked upon it, taking her time to examine and praise. Now, however, all she wanted to do was get it over with as quickly as possible.

One of the footmen provided them with a mounting block, but reaching the carriage floor still required far more flexibility than Ederra seemed to possess. Fortunately, Tahni turned around to help her as soon as she'd sprinted inside, as if none of it had been any challenge at all. Of course, it did help that she was technically wearing trousers, whereas Ederra had opted for a classic day gown with modest decoration, as befitted an unassuming lady-in-waiting.

Minster Sebek was right on their heels, barely breaking his stride as he climbed into the carriage, taking his place opposite them with a contented sigh. As the footman removed the block and closed the door, Sebek took the blanket that had been set aside on the seat next to him and spread it out to cover his legs, while Tahni leaned casually against the window frame, arms crossed and eyelids drooping. For her part, Ederra still felt the need to rearrange her skirts and the cushions behind her in order to try and find a more comfortable, yet decent position. Her efforts were challenged by a sharp prodding against her ribs corresponding to a cleverly hidden pocket where she'd stashed a certain item.

When he settled down at last, smoothing the blanket covering his lap, Sebek rapped his knuckles against the wooden panel behind him and called out to the coachman:

"Drive on!" He then smiled at his daughter and nodded towards the window. "Do pull the curtains back, Tahni dear. It is said that the journey to the Tzeru Forest is a boon in and of itself, given the magnificent scenery."

Tahni reached out absently and tugged at the brocade folds, revealing a narrow cobbled road still banked in morning fog.

"How's Steppo going to meet us there if Mother's taken the other carriage?" she asked suddenly.

Sebek paused for a second, picking up nonexistent lint from the billowing silk sleeves of his old-fashioned formal suit.

"To be entirely honest, I should not consider this matter worthy of our consideration. Your brother may choose to walk should he desire to try his endurance."

"Or his folly," muttered Tahni. She then inquired in a louder voice: "Where's Mother going anyway?"

"I have gathered that she is to meet with her friends."

"No doubt to talk a lot and do some gardening."

"I happen to consider the tending of one's garden a worthwhile preoccupation," replied her father. "I am also afraid that we might begin to take her dedication for granted, given that we live surrounded by the fruit of her labor every minute of every day."

"We are used to having a pretty garden, you mean."

"No doubt what you mean is absolutely exquisite."

"Of course that's what I meant," blurted Tahni. "And I've got nothing but respect for what Mother does. I've tried it myself for a little while, and it was an unmitigated disaster."

"Ah, yes, I recall your valiant attempt at tending a number of houseplants."

"There were only three, coming with the simplest instructions that Mother could find. And two of them died within a week."

"And then you asked Meyo to take care of the third, so that it would not follow into her siblings' unfortunate path. It was an Empress's Teardrop, if memory serves. He used to keep it on his desk, where it was bound to absorb the sunshine. A benevolent soul he has always been, your brother."

Sebek smiled wistfully, no doubt reminiscing about those lost days. Ederra wondered whether it had been a challenge for the man to have children so late in life. He seemed animated enough each time he spoke to or about them - even in the case of his contrary eldest son.

But then, to Ederra's chagrin, Sebek turned his quizzical regard towards her.

"You must have met him already," he said.

Ederra cleared her throat before venturing a reply, her mind furiously scrambling to find the least incriminating answer. She felt Tahni tense next to her, no doubt anticipating an unfortunate revelation.

"I do not believe I have. But I might be mistaken, since I do not think that I would know him even if I saw him. What is he like?"

Sebek's sharp gaze softened as he found himself obliged to present his youngest son in a favorable light.

"Unobtrusive, quiet, observant, and far too curious for his own good." He smiled at her in what was no doubt supposed to be a reassuring way, but which didn't put her at ease in the slightest, especially considering his next words: "You might be more alike than any of us believed at first."

There was no holding back her shivering anymore. Bracing herself, she rubbed her arms and murmured an apology. Sebek would not hear of it, however, and directed Tahni to reach beneath her own seat and take out a large wicker basket where several other blankets had been stored.

As Ederra wrapped herself in a heavy woolen plaid, murmuring her thanks, Tahni succeeded in redirecting the conversation towards less treacherous territory.

"So, who's coming to this thing anyway?" she'd asked her father, prompting him to launch into a lengthy diatribe about his colleagues from court, the royal family, the expected excitement resulting from the hunt itself, and the noticeably declining importance of tradition compared to his own younger days.

Despite the man's obvious passion for the subject, Ederra only found herself listening with half an ear, while Tahni was most likely not paying attention at all, only pushing the old man forward with a strategically placed "mhm", or "I see", or "fascinating." Therefore, she had no idea how much time had elapsed before the dreary city streets gave way to lush countryside knolls, their destination getting closer by the minute. Ederra struggled to summon up some dregs of enthusiasm for the unique opportunity she had of attending such an event, especially as an indirect part of the king's entourage, but she found that she could barely feel anything at all. Fortunately, that included fear and apprehension, so she allowed herself to grow quiet and calculating, tuning out the one-sided conversation around her.

Whatever came of this day, she would have to give it her best, as she had hardly any room left for error.