Evian returned with the herbs he had gathered by the creak and noticed on his way back to his own campsite, that Darwen was still watching him. He wasn't really surprised that Darwen had kept an eye on him, as he had been given a time limit.
Evian added the herbs to the lamb stew, and they all enjoyed a good meal before someone loudly across the tents announced that it was bedtime, and that all the young people had to go to their tents seeing that they had to wake up before the suns rose so they would be ready to out at dawn.
Later at night, Evian snuck out of his tent. He had waited for about an hour after darkness had fallen before sneaking out. He crept toward the tents of the warriors and mages, hoping to find out where Darwen's tent was. His plan was to get as close to the tent as possible to eavesdrop on the conversation he suspected his parents would have with Darwen.
As Evian approached the tents, he noticed that only the youngsters were asleep. The adult warriors and mages were awake, chatting quietly around their campfires. It would be difficult for Evian to sneak up to a tent without being seen, but firstly and foremost, he had to figure out which tent belonged to Darwen.
Evian looked up at the sky, hoping for some clouds to create shadows, because the moon's changing colors were bright enough that no one really needed a torch to move around.
He remembered once going on a night hunt with his father, because a monster had been spotted in the area around Glynlon. Torin had been an expert at night hunting, and Evian had never fully understood why a blacksmith was so skilled at it. Nonetheless, Torin had taken his two eldest sons on that hunt.
He had woken them just after midnight, instructing them to put on dark clothes and be ready to leave within five minutes - no questions allowed! Evian and Ryamus quickly got dressed and hurried outside, where their father nodded approvingly at their speed.
"We're going hunting tonight. It is suspected that a monster is roaming around the area." Torin had said. "We're not sure exactly what kind of monster it is, but it's been spotted in the woods behind Kiklys' house. Our task is to track it down, and if it's a creature we can handle, we are to kill it."
The boys looked at their father with a mix of excitement and concern so obvious that Torin couldn't help but laugh.
"Relax, boys. We're not going alone. Balin, Kuran, and Quix are coming along with their sons too," he added reassuringly, with a chuckle in his voice.
After another reassurance from their father that everything was going to by just fine, they moved out and met up with the others at the edge of the forest.
"Good evening, gentlemen," Quix said, grinning at the nervous looks the thirteen boys cast toward the woods.
Balin, Kuran, and Torin all greeted Quix, and it seemed like the four men were enjoying the anxiety that was clearly shown on their sons faces.
"Alright, boys. Before we enter the woods to find the monster that was spotted here, it's important to prepare" Torin said firmly. "By preparing, I mean making sure everyone has a weapon they can use if it comes to a fight. Quix, Kuran, you and your boys have spears to keep it at a distance if we get close enough. Balin, you and your sons have bows, because we hope to take it down from afar. And my boys and I have swords or axes, for close combat with the beast."
Torin's explanation was simple enough to understand, but Evian was nervous about the idea of close quarters combat with a monster. He wasn't built for it.
Evian shook himself from the memory of that night and returned to the present. He realized he had spent too much time reminiscing and cursed himself for his wandering thoughts. He wished it didn't happen to him. Just like that time he had almost been run over by…
No! He had to stop, he told himself, as he felt another memory pulling him in.
"Mind wanderings," his mother had called them, after he told her how he sometimes blacked out, lost in thoughts of past events.
Evian continued sneaking toward the tent, carefully watching the guards and their patrols. He had wasted too much time in his mind, and now he needed to hurry if he wanted to overhear what his parents were discussing with Darwen.
He reached the tent after some tense moments, where he had to pause when he came too close to one of the guards' patrol routes. He hid in a bush, staying perfectly still so as not to be noticed. He held his breath, nervous about being caught, and when the guard passed, he exhaled all at once, nearly giving himself away. Luckily, the guard didn't hear him and continued his patrol.
"…that discussion," he heard his father say.
"But we have to talk about it, Torin," Darwen said, sounding a bit irritated.
Evian could imagine his father puffing up, as he always did when he was really annoyed, but before he could say anything, Renalia's soft voice came from the tent.
"Calm down, darling. We're all old friends here."
"And Darwen, we are ending this talk about returning to Atmylon here, because we're not interested in going back to the court," she continued.
Evian almost lost his breath. He knew his parents had grown up in and around Atmylon, but he didn't know they had been part of the royal court.
"But His Majesty Horax and Queen Livica miss you both at their side and have ordered me to try and persuade you to return," Darwen said in a quieter, more subdued tone. He clearly felt he was speaking out of duty and loyalty to King Horax.
"And you've done that, old friend, but our decision is final," Renalia said, with a sharpness that suggested she had said these words many times before.
"But…" Darwen began, only to be interrupted by Torin.
"Listen here, old friend," Torin said, now with a more relaxed tone. "I'll write a message to Horax, explaining our decision—how we think it's best for the boy if we stay here, and why we believe he's safer when we're not around to attract attention."
Evian wondered which boy they were talking about and almost missed Darwen's reply.
"Alright then," Darwen sighed. "But His Majesty Horax will not be pleased."
"No, perhaps not, but he won't be angry—just saddened," Renalia said, and Evian imagined she was smiling.
Darwen sighed again. "I know how to tell King Horax that you're not coming back, but what on earth am I supposed to say to Queen Livica when she finds out you're not returning, Renalia?"
Renalia chuckled softly. "Don't worry, my friend. Like my husband, I'll write a short letter explaining everything."
"I know for certain she wouldn't put Mira in any danger, so she'll understand," Renalia added after a brief pause.
"Alright," Darwen sighed, "then there's nothing more to say on that matter."
He continued speaking, but Evian could tell it was just casual conversation between old friends, so he turned and snuck back toward his campsite and tent.
As he made his way back, his mind raced. Who was the boy they had mentioned? Who was Mira? And why was she connected to the royal family? Did the king and queen have a daughter? He didn't know. Why had his parents never told him they had been part of the royal court? How could he trust them when they said Torin was just a blacksmith in the capital, when it was clear he had been so much more? What else were his parents hiding? Did any of his siblings know about this? If they did, why hadn't they told him? Should he tell them?
His thoughts consumed him so much that he nearly walked straight into one of the guards.
"Hey, kid. What are you doing out here?" the guard asked sternly.
Evian was so shocked by his carelessness that he was momentarily speechless.
"Hello, kid. I'm talking to you," the guard said, more forcefully.
Still, Evian didn't answer, and after a few seconds, the guard jabbed the butt of his spear into Evian's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
"Answer me when I talk to you, boy, or it'll be the other end of the spear next time," the guard threatened.
Evian took a deep breath and rasped, "I just had to relieve myself, but I must've lost track of where I was because I was thinking about Selvin Academy."
"You shouldn't be wandering so far from your campsite in the middle of the night," the guard said, still strict but with a gentler tone than before, now sounding more like a reprimand than a threat.
Evian nodded and apologized to the guard before hurrying back to his tent. He was sure he wouldn't be able to sleep with all the questions swirling in his mind and the scare he had just received, but as soon as he lay down, the day's events, exhaustion, and sneaking about overtook him, and he fell into a deep sleep.