Haf, Roland, and Cora received Peter and Mayra's report stoically. Lysander had been summoned to join them for his input, but sat in the far corner looking exhausted.
"This almost worries me more," The Rhone prince commented. "She claimed to be out before, but found some way to have more herbs despite her things being searched."
"She never claimed to be out, I guess," Mayra tried to think over those conversations. "We just confiscated what she had and searched her things. We didn't search her person then, so it's possible that she had it on herself and used her last bit for her love-perfume."
"I think it's a breath thing, not a perfume," Roland replied absently. "She didn't smell like it all over, and the scent got very strong when she spoke. Resisting meant I had to gasp for fresh air whenever she turned away."
"How very disturbing," Cora put in with a look of disgust. "What kind of woman enchants a man to get a husband?"
"But you continue to enchant me every day, my Darling," Haf teased to lighten the mood.
"You know what I mean," Cora's tone was serious, but the corners of her mouth twitched.
"I think we should leave her under heavy guard tonight, and send her back tomorrow. She has not admitted to the most sinister possibility, but there is more than enough to merit Rhone's judgment, if not Klain's as well. I'm not sure how she ran away before, but we must make sure it does not happen again." Roland's brow creased with the seriousness of the situation.
"Do you think she serves the Void again?" Mayra asked the question weighing most heavily on her heart.
"Her eyes are light, but I'm not sure that means anything. Once the curse was fully broken and the Void banished, I'm not sure that signal holds true anymore." Roland frowned in thought.
"That's true, Quilina's eyes were quite normal," The young woman mused. She would have noticed something as obvious as black eyes immediately. "At any rate, I'm concerned that her habit of reverting to old ways when she gets in trouble is a terrible one. She'll be more desperate than ever as she's taken back to Klain to be judged."
Everyone fell silent for a moment as they absorbed the words.
"I am uncomfortable executing anyone for a crime they may or may not commit," Haf said, "even if it risks the Void's return. Everyone must be allowed a chance."
"We gave her a chance, and she ensorcelled our son!" Cora cried.
"Which is why she cannot stay," Haf replied. "Perhaps the distance and time will be enough to break her hold. She's being kept in a windowless hut under guard at the moment. Perhaps we should have her pack her things so that the guards can take her away first thing in the morning."
"Is the pack safe to give her?" Peter held it up. "It's empty, as far as I can tell."
"Which seam did you say was repaired?" Roland asked, looking closer.
"Right here, by the support," The younger man pointed. "There's nothing else strange about it, no bulges or anything."
"Did she say how soon after the battle she ran away? I never asked Father about her, specifically, so I don't know when she went missing."
Mayra chewed on the inside of her cheek in thought.
"She said after everything was revealed, she ran away. I'm not sure how soon, but it didn't sound like she waited to be accused of anything." She replied.
Roland looked at the pack closely, then pulled a knife from his side and slashed the seam open, to the mild surprise of several in the room.
He took a deep breath and pulled the wooden supports from their places. Mayra was the first to react.
"Oh," She mumbled. "Oh! You're a genius, Roland!"
He tossed her a smirk that chastised the surprise in her voice, and pulled the necklace from around his neck.
"Can the room be darkened?" He asked Haf and Cora. It was nearing sundown, but enough light remained in the room to make the next part difficult. The older woman promptly went about drawing all the curtains on the windows, until they stood in dim, filtered light.
Mayra leaned forward as Roland placed the supports across the table and touched his necklace to each one in turn. The one that had been alongside the repaired seam was saved for last, and the carved leaf charm glowed subtly when placed alongside it. The wood reflected the glow back.
"What does this mean?" Haf squinted in the dark.
"After the war, King Duncan and I set about destroying all portals into the Darkness. I learned during that time that two portal openers will reveal each other in this way. We were reasonably confident that we had burned all of the ones outside of our control as a measure of prevention against the Void's return." He frowned at the offending stick. "Obviously, we missed at least one."
"Has she been using it??" Cora asked with concern. "Did she bring the Void here?"
"There is no way to tell whether or how recently it's been used," Roland replied. "But having it in her possession does not bode well for her."
"Is it possible she didn't know she had it?" Peter said, always wanting to find the best in people if he could.
"Technically possible, but the coincidence would be a bit much," Mayra pursed her lips in disapproval. "Using it would explain how she was able to hide things from us."
"Disturbing, but true," Roland admitted. "I will make sure the guards understand the seriousness of their task to keep her watched tonight and deliver her to my father as quickly as possible."
"Wait–" Mayra said with an unexpected burst of compassion. "Let me get her a new bag, since you just ripped hers apart. She should have somewhere to keep her clothes."
"No," Cora said, "I mean, yes, you may bring her a new bag, but it will have entirely new clothes and toiletries. I will go with you to deliver them. She must be allowed to keep none of her own possessions after this discovery."
Mayra blinked at the seamless blend of kindness and callousness. It was a reasonable, even wise, plan of action. Brenna had shown a remarkable talent for keeping things hidden. To take all of her things away was cautious in the extreme, but merited in the face of the threat posed by the Void's return.
On the other hand, to replace them showed a measure of kindness Mayra didn't necessarily expect after Cora's son had been bewitched by the Rhone woman. It was a puzzling mix.
As the ladies left together, Mayra pondered whether to ask about it. Though it was in her nature to ask whatever popped into her mind, something held her back now.
"You seem very familiar with the prince of Rhone," Cora commented.
"He married my best friend, and we see each other often. He's like an extra brother, though I have plenty of those already," Mayra explained.
"I see. And you find him a trustworthy man, I would think?" Cora continued.
"I trust him more than at least half of my own brothers," Mayra smirked, "and more than the other governmental officials, except for maybe the General… that may be too much information to have shared just now. I regard him highly."
Cora nodded, and led the way to a shop that was just closing its doors. When the shopkeeper saw the Commodore's wife headed that way, she opened the door back up and welcomed the ladies in.
The older woman, true to her word, purchased a few ready-made dresses, undergarments, and other small items for Brenna, while Mayra located a suitable bag for carrying everything. The ladies paid and off they went toward the hut where Brenna was currently under guard.
Off to the edge of the settlement, it wasn't quite a jail, but served the purpose of detaining those who were under investigation until such time as it could be decided what was to be done with them.
Mayra sighed, rubbing one of her temples absently with the tips of her fingers. A sudden headache was slowing her thoughts and hurting her terribly.
"I don't feel well," She confessed to Cora. "I think I'll need to go to bed after we finish this errand."
"There must be a change in the weather coming," replied the other woman, "I don't feel quite myself either."
Cora motioned the guards aside, and moved forward with the bag, which was packed with all of the purchased items.
"Brenna, we have confiscated your personal effects, but offer these in replacement to help you on your journey," She said as the two ladies entered the dwelling. It was dark inside, and Cora moved to light a candle on the table nearest to the door.
"Brenna?" Mayra asked a little louder when there was no answer.
Cora held the candle aloft and the two women stared in shock at the empty room.