Chapter 358: Letters and Words

Words : 1438 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 358: Letters and Words “Why is that bear staring at us?” Senta’s question caused Dys to involuntarily glance to the side as she was in the best position to see said bear. As expected, Runar was still sitting in the same spot as before, one elbow leaning heavily on the table as he glowered at Jadis. The mug of ale that had been set before him looked untouched, the froth of foam still visible rising of the top despite it having been there for some time. His bear-like face was hard to read at times, but there really was no mistaking his expression for anything other than thinly veiled hostility. “He’s not staring at us,” Aila corrected her mother. “He’s staring at Jadis.” “You know very well that doesn’t answer the question,” Senta said primly while giving her daughter a censuring look. “He doesn’t like me very much because I beat him in a fight a while ago,” Jay stepped in to answer the question. “Sort of a sore loser kind of bear.” Jadis heard a snort come from the distant table, one that was answered by a growl. She did her best not to pay the other table too much mind since she was trying to focus on Aila’s parents, but she couldn’t help but see the reactions of the other occupants to her statement. The snort had come from Noll, an unexpected member of the side gathering. When Jadis’ party had made it to The Silver Lute and seated themselves as a table, her unwanted escorts had grabbed a table nearby, including Runar. Noll had already been sitting at his own table when Jadis had arrived. For whatever reason, he’d switched seats and joined the other high-CLR people at their table. Noll’s snout showed a rather obvious smirk that had to be a purposeful attempt at antagonizing Runar. The old wolf normally had a solid deadpan, but it seemed he enjoyed getting a rise out of the Valbjorn. Runar was glaring back at Noll, his attention momentarily diverted. Jadis supposed it was a good thing both Roy and Severina were sitting between them, otherwise Runar might have started something physical. D dammit all, Jadis was supposed to be entertaining her girlfriend’s parents, not worrying about whether or not a couple of overpowered fur boys were going to start throwing punches at the next table over. “He seems strong,” Vikwas quietly commented as he eyed Runar in response to Jay’s explanation. “He is,” Aila agreed. “He’s past CLR one hundred. But Jadis was sparing with both him and another CLR one hundred warrior just the other day and she almost beat them both. She only lost because of a ring out, actually. Jadis is truly much stronger than she looks, so she’s a great protector.” “She looks strong already,” Vikwas said as he eyed Syd, the closest of Jadis’ bodies. “Thanks,” Syd smiled, hoping that was intended as a compliment. “I still don’t understand why those people need to follow you around then,” Aila’s mother interjected with a huff. “Are you under arrest, or aren’t you? Is that why you were fighting that bear man over there? Were you causing trouble?” “It’s all just politics, mother,” Aila replied before Jadis could say anything. “Political maneuvering between nobles and the like. It’s all being resolved soon enough, so it’s nothing you need to worry about.” “I would say that having a man like that following you around is very much something to worry about,” Senta glared at Runar with such fierceness that Jadis actually felt a little nervous for the Valbjorn. “Most of those knights seem like the sort of crowd you’d want to avoid when alone at night. At least that Seraphim seems like she has a good head on her shoulders.” Was it Jadis’ imagination or did Severina’s feathers actually puff up slightly at the compliment? She couldn’t easily tell since the paladin had a poker face to rival Vraekae’s, but Roy was definitely giving the Seraphim an offended look. “They’re all good people,” Aila assured her mother. A debatable assertion considering Runar had been included in that statement, but Jadis wasn’t about to correct Aila at the moment. “They’re just doing their job. You don’t have to worry about them causing any trouble.” “They aren’t the ones I’m worried about,” Senta said, her hazel eyes flickering between Aila and Jadis. “There’s nothing you need to worry about,” Aila insisted before changing the subject. “What did you bring from Red Tree, anyway? I saw a lot of crates in the wagon.” “Just some items that our neighbors wanted us to sell while we’re in the capital,” Senta answered after a moment, apparently willing to let the subject change for the moment. “We had lots of room in the wagon, so no reason not to make the most of the trip.” “We brought Ethel’s jam,” Vikwas said as he lifted his mug to take another drink. “A whole crate.” “So, uh,” Jay started haltingly after a few seconds of silence. “I’m sorry Aila didn’t tell you about my, uh, unique class. I guess it was kind of a shock.” Vikwas shrugged, his big shoulders rising and falling like boulders. “Not that bad. We were warned.” “You were?” Jay tilted her head in surprise. “From the way you and Senta were acting, I thought—” “My brothers wrote me,” Vikwas interrupted as he pulled a folded letter from his inner coat pocket. “They did not spare the details.” “Ah,” all three of Jadis made the uncomfortable noise at the same time. “What did their letter say?” Dys asked warily. Vikwas tapped the letter idly in his hand, looking down as he contemplated his answer. After a moment, he extended his hand, offering the letter to Dys. “A lot,” Vikwas said as Dys took the letter. Quickly scanning the collection of pages, Jadis saw that both Gerwas and Ludwas had contributed to the lengthy letter. They were indeed detailed, describing everything from the encounter with the grundwyrm they’d fought side-by-side with Jadis to the massive battle outside of Far Felsen’s walls. There were many things that the letter didn’t include, things that only Jadis and her companions would know, and the letter had clearly been written before Jadis and Fortune’s Favored had returned from their trip to find the Dryads, but the fact that Jadis and Aila were in a serious relationship and that included Eir, Kerr, and Thea had been outlined. Interestingly, while Gerwas and Ludwas and not indicated they had any issue with the polyamorous relationship, what they did voice some concerns about was Jadis’ involvement with Magistrate Vraekae as well as making enemies with General Egilhard. The two brothers had been paying closer attention to those kinds of politics than Jadis had thought. “Senta didn’t want Aila to go to Weigrun,” Vikwas spoke up, not looking in Jadis’ direction. “Too dangerous. Too close to the demons. Too far from home. She wanted Aila to stay in Red Tree. Maybe go to Rivercrest for training. Maybe become a scholar. Study here, in Eldingholt, if she could.” He turned then, looking up at Dys. “She promised she’d stay safe and far away from harm. Gerwas and Ludwas promised to look after her. Neither turned out to be true.” “There’s nothing safe about what we do,” Dys admitted, her arms hanging at her sides. “But I promise you, I’m keeping her as safe as I possibly can. Hel—Abyss, she keeps me safe. She’s so strong now, I bet you wouldn’t even believe it. She can kill dozens of demons with a snap of her fingers now.” Vikwas nodded as Dys spoke, arms folded across his chest. His expression was still inscrutable, but his words were soft. “I know. My girl has always been strong. She just needed room to grow.” His eyes turned up towards the tall inn walls, almost as though he could see through the stone right to where his wife and daughter were. “The trick is getting my sweet Senta to understand.” Jay shifted, turning her gaze to follow where the older man was looking. “Haven’t you told her? Tried explaining things to her?” Vikwas met Jay’s gaze, a smirk barely visible under his thick beard. “To be told something is true, and to know something is true, are very different things.”

Chapter 358: Letters and Words

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