The days spent at the inn passed slowly and painfully, with each moment of it filled with tension, worried about watchful eyes and danger that might befall them at any moment; to say that it was quick would be a lie.
Seraphina, Edwin, and Samuel avoided contact with others as much as possible, keeping their movements limited to their room and occasional meals in the common area— the only person that ever left the inn was Edwin to occasionally check if the letter had been replied to.
To them, rats trapped in a cage with a serpent looking for them, each hour felt like an eternity as they waited for a reply to the letter Seraphina had sent.
Finally, on the fourth day, the tension broke.
Edwin returned to the room just before noon, his face grave but with a hint of relief as he held a small, neatly sealed letter in hand and a small simple metal box in the other.
He handed it to Seraphina without a word, her hands trembled slightly as she took it and waited not even a second longer before she broke the seal and read what was inside.
The letter was simple, written in a delicate but hurried script that Seraphina instantly recognized as Telaphina's— she didn't read it aloud but in her mind to herself first.
'My Dearest Seraphina,
First and foremost, I am relieved to hear that you are safe, words simply can not express the worry I felt when I heard you hadn't returned from your trip, your father was beside himself with rage, this letter has eased my heart greatly. Your quick thinking in hiding was wise, and I commend your bravery and composure in the face of such danger. I am extremely proud of you.
I must insist, however, that you do not mention your location in any other letters you send, I do not want to know where you are, and it is safer that way for you.
I will look into the matter as best I can however the estate has been very busy lately, your father is looking for you like a madman, he has ordered all his free knights to look for you and to gather others to look. There are many shadows within the estate, and I will need time to determine who can be trusted and who cannot. Rest assured, I will leave no stone unturned to find the truth.
Along with this letter is a small gift to ensure your safety. It is a metal box containing gold coins for you to use as needed. The box is locked, and the code is something only we would know: the year of your sister's birthday, please guard it carefully.
Take care, my dear, and please do not stay in one place for too long, I will reach out to you when I find more. Trust no one blindly, and keep yourself safe. You are far stronger than you realize, and I have every confidence you will overcome this.
Yours in trust and love,
Telaphina'
As Seraphina finished reading, her hand brushed against the box with a slowed motion, and her eyes watered, but she would never admit that the words of the letter came as a much bigger relief than she expected.
The relief that at least someone in her family didn't outright hate her, that she had someone on her side; someone who showed care. Even the news of her father was beyond her expectations.
She wiped her eyes with her hand, hiding the tears as she handed the letter off to Edwin for him to read it himself, checking on the box.
It was plain but sturdy, made of unpolished metal with a simple numerical lock on its front. She leaned closer to the box and input the numbers of her sister's birth year and the lock clicked open, revealing the contents inside; a tidy stack of gold coins wrapped securely in cloth.
"That's more than I expected."
Samuel muttered, his voice tinged with awe as he glanced over Seraphina's shoulder.
Edwin crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.
"She's thoughtful. This will help keep us afloat for a while."
Seraphina nodded, closing the box and securing the lock once more.
"Telaphina is cautious, which makes me believe her words. If she wanted me dead, she wouldn't have gone through this trouble."
"Do you trust her?"
Edwin asked, his voice neutral.
"I don't trust anyone entirely."
Seraphina admitted since she couldn't trust anyone so easily, not just yet.
"But I believe she cares for me to an extent, and right now, that's enough."
The three exchanged looks, each lost in their own thoughts.
The letter was a relief, but it also raised more questions, who within the estate could Telaphina trust? How deep did the betrayal run? And how long would it take for her to uncover the truth?
Seraphina turned to her companions, her expression firm.
"We have to make the most of this. We can't stay here forever, as Telaphina said this could take some time, and the longer we stay in one place the more dangerous it is. In the meantime, we'll prepare for what's next."
Edwin nodded, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword and Samuel gave a small grunt of agreement, his injuries nearly healed after the days of rest.
Seraphina looked out the window, her mind racing as she considered their next moves. She had never explored this world before, in fact, just a few months ago she was lying in a bed unsure if she would even live till the next day.
Now she had the chance to travel and see, sure the circumstance in which it happened wasn't the best, but she could make the most out of a bad situation.